WALES

Departmental Flowers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on flowers in the last 12 months.

Paul Murphy: In the last 12 months, my Department has spent £40 on flowers.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what  (a) capital and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office is a small Department with no executive functions, and no responsibility for spending programmes, either capital or resource. Our resource allocation is purely to cover our own running costs, and our capital allocation only to provide cover for proper management of Gwydyr House. Accordingly, we are not in a position to participate in the bringing forward of spending plans.

Opinion Leader Research

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has paid Opinion Leader Research in each financial year since 2007-08.

Paul Murphy: My Department has not made any payments to Opinion Leader Research since 2007-08.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Management and Services of the House of Commons Review

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was spent by the Commission on the Tebbit Review of Management and Services of the House; how much has been spent to date on implementation of the review's findings; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The cost of the Tebbit Review was £112,000. It is difficult to distinguish the costs of implementing the Tebbit Review from the costs of improved service delivery and organisational change, some of which was already under way before the Tebbit Review but to which the Review gave additional impetus. A preliminary analysis suggests that the additional direct costs of implementing the Tebbit recommendations, to the end of the current financial year, have been £395,000, which have been met out of existing budgets from efficiency savings. This figure does not include the cost of service improvements since the Tebbit Review (for example, improvements to the parliamentary website and to internal communications).
	It is planned to review the extent to which the intended business benefits of the Tebbit Review have been realised in 2010.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House which training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken up by (i) civil servants and (ii) Ministers in her Office in the last 12 months.

Chris Bryant: Training courses are just one aspect of the development opportunities open to civil servants in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, and every member of staff discusses their personal development as part of their appraisal process.
	Information on courses attended is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the last 12 months members of staff participated in training provided by external training organisations and internal training courses which are provided by the Cabinet Office free of charge.
	During the past 12 months Ministers in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons have taken up training courses provided by the National School of Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government has had with the Taliban on securing peace in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: The Government have not engaged in talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, our embassy in Kabul and the UK-led Civil-Military Mission Helmand in Lashkar Gah have made a wide range of contacts within the Afghanistan government and people in public life, some of whom will have held positions under the former Taliban regime.
	The UK's position on reconciliation remains unchanged. It is not for the UK to reconcile with those elements fighting in opposition to the Afghan government. We support President Karzai's efforts to bring disaffected Afghans into society's mainstream, providing they renounce violence and accept Afghanistan's constitution.

Binyam Mohamed

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to paragraph 9 (ix) of the High Court judgement in the case of R (Binyam Mohamed) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 21 August 2008 on what date officials of his Department were first informed that an officer of the Secret Intelligence Service had made observations about the treatment of persons detained by or on behalf of the United States in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 26 February 2009
	It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence matters. The Intelligence and Security Committee's 2005 Report into the Handling of Detainees by UK Intelligence Personnel in Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and Iraq records that,
	"Ministers were not informed of this incident until July 2004."

Binyam Mohamed

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of Binyam Mohamed's welfare was made by the UK officials who visited him in July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We made clear repeatedly our concern about Mr Mohamed's welfare and medical condition during his detention at Guantanamo Bay. Following US agreement, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials conducted a welfare visit to him on 23 July 2008. No immediate concerns were raised and it would be inappropriate to reveal personal details passed to our officials. Issues raised by Mr Mohamed were followed up with US at the time. The findings of the visit were communicated to Mr Mohamed's family and legal representatives.

Burma: China

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of China on reports of illegal export of logs and timber from Burma.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not raised this issue in his contacts with the Chinese government. However, the ongoing UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue includes a strand of work on natural resource management, under which the UK Forestry Commission and the Chinese State Forestry Administration co-operate on 'Forest Law Enforcement and Governance', including to combat illegal logging. Discussions between officials have covered sustainability and legality of timber exports, and are due to cover timber tracking systems. These discussions are relevant to all timber exporting countries, including Burma.

Burma: EC Common Foreign and Security Policy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the implementation of the EU Common Position on Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government are determined that the common position should be implemented such that it targets those individuals and entities that benefit directly from the regime's misrule, while allowing vital humanitarian work within Burma to continue.

Burma: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the political situation in Burma with his colleagues in the United Nations Security Council.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss Burma with members of the UN Security Council, as well as those countries participating in the UN Secretary-General's Group of Friends. We use this frequent dialogue to reinforce our deep concern at the political and human rights situation in Burma, and urge those with influence on the military government to help the UN Good Offices Mission deliver tangible progress on the ground. The UN Security Council will continue to seek a briefing from the Secretary-General and his representatives on the outcome of their interaction with Burma.

Burma: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the Supplementary Understanding reached by the government of Myanmar with the International Labour Organisation in assisting people forced into labour.

Bill Rammell: Our embassy in Rangoon has discussed the effectiveness of the supplementary understanding on forced labour with the office of the executive director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Our assessment is that the mechanism is continuing to produce results. Of 80 complaints referred to the Burmese authorities over the last year, all but eight have been seen some action to resolve them.
	The military government has shown signs of genuine co-operation with the ILO. However, the problem of forced labour remains widespread and we are particularly concerned by the failure of the authorities to publicly condemn the practice and address its use by the military.
	We will continue to support the work of the ILO in Burma.

Departmental Art Works

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which works of art the Government Art Collection has loaned for display in the  (a) private offices and  (b) official residences of Ministers in his Department.

Gillian Merron: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Private offices
	2527: Richard Cosway—James Seton, Vice Admiral; Governor of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1787 to 1798—oil painting
	5153: Francis Grant—Sir Henry Pottinger (1789 to 1856) Governor of Hong Kong—oil painting
	0/87: Joseph Nollekens—William Pitt (1759 to 1806) Prime Minister—marble bust
	11994: L Alfred Brunet-Debaines—Houses of Parliament—engraving
	2367: Edwin Whitney-Smith—Ernest Bevin (1881 to 1951) trade unionist and politician—bronze sculpture
	3879: Anon British 18C—View of Horse Guards, showing New Horse Guards—oil painting
	8533: William George Gillies—Peeblesshire Landscape—oil painting
	11449: John Everett Millais—Hubert von Herkomer—Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-81) Prime Minister
	13207: John Davies—Sand Dunes, Maghara, Co. Donegal—photograph
	14332: Donald McIntyre—Crail, Fife—acrylic painting
	11768: Victor Pasmore—Hear the Sound of a Magic Tune—3/25—screenprint
	12002: William Scott—Cup and Pan Blues—99/100—screenprint
	12122: Patrick Caulfield—Signature Pots—31/70—screenprint
	12729: R B Kitaj—The Congo and other Poems-In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part—37/150—screenprint
	12731: R B Kitaj—Benia Krik—In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part—37/150—screenprint
	2439: Molly Guion—The Queen's Beasts—Oil painting
	11912: John Terence Holden—Homage—acrylic painting
	14918: Graham Sutherland—L'�lphant [The Elephant]Le Bestiaire, ou Cortge d'Orphe by Apollinaire3/75etching | aquatint
	6705: Thomas PickenView of the Harbour, St. George's, Grenada, West Indieslithograph
	6706: William SimpsonView of the Town and Harbour, St. George's, Grenada, West Indieslithograph
	18180/1: John LathamTadpole-Taffrail(five photo etchings)20/30etching
	18180/2: John LathamBoy-Girl(five photo etchings)20/30etching
	18180/3: John LathamBen(five photo etchings)20/30etching
	18180/4: John LathamPresumed Level of Abstraction(five photo etchings)20/30etching
	18180/5: John LathamFlat Time 1-10 (Neg)(five photo etchings)20/30etching
	12788: Geraldine BrockPrayer in an Eastern Gardentextile
	 (b) Official Residences
	360: James FittonMarketwatercolour painting
	613: Fred MillettBlandford Placewatercolour painting
	1081: Anthony GrossAlbatrosswatercolour painting
	1556: Anon 16CJames Basire IThe Encampment of the English Forces near Portsmouth, together with a View of the English and French Fleets at the Commencement of the Action between them on the XIXth of July MDXLV
	1763: William CallowOff Doverwatercolour painting
	1829: Anthony GrossCricket Matchwatercolour painting
	2451: B A KeoghThe Procession in Whitehall, Coronationgouache painting
	2464: Leonard RosomanThe Coronation Procession in the Mall, from Admiralty Archwatercolour painting
	2721: Anthony GrossFairground at Hampstead Heathwatercolour painting
	3112: N A L MillerThe Royal Yacht from Portsmouth Harbourwatercolour painting
	3272: Anthony GrossThe Tower Promenadewatercolour painting
	3896: Prunella CloughTrawlnetOil painting
	4622: Walter Richard SickertLaylock and Thunderplumpoil painting
	4888: Jacques Emile BlancheJulia Duckworth (1846-95) ne Jackson, later Lady Stephen; mother of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell (after a photograph c1864 to 1867 by Julia Margaret Cameron)Oil painting
	4911: Thomas C HoflandRobert Havell SnrView of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshireaquatint
	4958: John Arthur DodgsonLuccaoil painting
	5794: Anthony GrossLondon Scene, Junction of Old Street and Great Eastern Streetwatercolour painting
	5951: William WestallRichard Gilson ReeveWindsor Castle, from EtonPicturesque tour of the River Thamesaquatint
	6124: Thomas C HoflandRobert Havell SnrBolton Priory, Twilight No.2aquatint
	7881: Samuel and Nathaniel BuckThe East Prospect of Derby
	8023: Samuel and Nathaniel BuckThe South West Prospect of Manchester, in the County Palatine of Lancaster
	10053: Eric Erskine TufnellClipper Ship Britanniawatercolour painting
	10137: William WoollettA View of the Great Room etc. at Hall-Barn near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, a Seat of Edmund Waller Esq./Vee de la Grand Sale c. a Hall-Barn dans la Comt de Bucks, appertenant a Edmund Waller Ecuyerengraving
	10142: William WoollettA View of Part of the Garden at Hall-Barn near Beckonsfield in Buckinghamshire, a Seat of Edmund Waller Esq./Vee d'une Partie du Jardin a Hall-Barn, dans la Comt de Bucks, appartenant a Edmund Waller Ecuyer
	11675: Edward WolfeNorfolk Landscapeoil painting
	12038: Thomas BadesladeWilliam Henry TomsThe North-East Prospect of Chirk Castle in Denbighshireengraving
	12553: Keith VaughanLane in Shereoil painting
	12870: William Henry PyneCoal HeaversThe Costume of Great Britainaquatint
	1443: William GauntThe Day War Was Declaredwatercolour painting
	15127: Norman WilkinsonThe Winston Churchill goes to Seaoil painting
	16211: Winston Spencer ChurchillSeascapeoil painting
	17252: Jack SmithStill Life with Plaiceoil painting

Departmental Training

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has provided voice coaching to any of its employees in the last 12 months.

Bill Rammell: 'Voice coaching' is not a term recognised in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's internal management information systems.

Diego Garcia: Rendition

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1747W, on Guantnamo Bay: detainees, for what reasons he is unable to provide further information on the matter; and whether his Department has been informed of the names of the two detainees rendered through Diego Garcia.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 13 March 2009
	We are unable to provide further information on this matter other than that given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his statement of 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 547.

Hezbollah

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official contact there has been between the Government and representatives of Hezbollah in Lebanon in the last two months.

Bill Rammell: There has been no contact since 9 January 2009 when our ambassador in Beirut met the Lebanese Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee including Hezbollah MP, Ali Amaar.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on holding discussions with  (a) Hamas and  (b) Hezbollah.

Bill Rammell: In our ongoing discussions with the US Administration we continue to share the assessment that Hamas has not moved sufficiently towards rejecting violence, accepting Israel's right to exist or recognising previous agreements for either the UK or the US to hold discussions with Hamas.
	We have also kept the US informed of our decision to explore carefully targeted contacts with Hezbollah elected officials.

Nepal: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Nepal; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We welcome the steps the government of Nepal has taken towards the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We have urged them to ensure that the TRC bill is drafted on a consensus basis, so that all those involved in and affected by the conflict share ownership of the process, and that it is compliant with international human rights standards. Facing up to and dealing with the human rights abuses committed by both sides during the conflict is the key to concluding the peace process and laying the foundations for a sustainable democracy based on the rule of law and respect for human rights. We are ready to support this process.

Nepal: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made with the Comprehensive Peace Accord in Nepal.

Bill Rammell: The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of November 2006 paved the way for successful elections in April 2008 for a Constituent Assembly, the most inclusive and representative institution in Nepal's history. This has given Nepal the opportunity to write a constitution which will enshrine in law a democratic system which will guarantee respect for human rights. Unfortunately, the consensus among political parties which allowed the elections to take place is fracturing, and progress has been slow both on drafting the constitution and on addressing the commitments given in the CPA on issues such as land reform and the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
	We are particularly concerned at the lack of progress on the future of Maoist ex-combatants in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The government has still not made any progress on the discharge of the almost 3,000 child soldiers identified by the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), or the other ex-combatants disqualified by UNMIN. We and other international partners have voiced our concerns about this and about the recent recruitment campaigns by both the Nepal Army and the PLA in violation of the CPA. We acknowledge that integration of the two armies will be a difficult issue to resolve, but have told the government that a failure to make progress risks endangering the peace process and that we, UN agencies and other donors stand ready to assist.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan on  (a) the treatment of the Ahmadi Muslim community and  (b) section 298C of the Pakistani Penal Code.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 23 March 2009
	In February 2009, my hon. Friend Gillian Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, visited Pakistan and met with Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs. During this visit, she raised concerns about the difficulties faced by religious minorities in Pakistan, including the Christian and Ahmadi communities and the mis-use of blasphemy legislation (section 289C in the Pakistani Penal Code).
	With EU partners we have also made a series of dmarches to the government of Pakistan on protecting religious minorities. In January this year we dmarched the government of Pakistan to promote tolerance, and take measures to protect freedom of religion or belief. This dmarche also called for the reform of discriminatory legislation and urged the Minister for Minority Affairs to raise awareness about abuses against minorities and to increase their political representation at all levels.
	In July 2008, we issued a dmarche with EU partners calling on the government of Pakistan to specifically protect religious freedoms and human rights of the Ahmadis.

Sodexo

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of allegations of involvement by Sodexo in breaches of human rights at  (a) Guantnamo Bay and  (b) Abu Ghraib.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no record of receiving reports of allegations of involvement by Sodexo in breaches of human rights at Guantanamo Bay or Abu Ghraib.

Sri Lanka: Foreign Relations

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the  (a) UN Security Council and (b) Commonwealth on the standing of the government of Sri Lanka in (i) the international community and (ii) each institution.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary continues discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with UN Security Council and Commonwealth counterparts as the opportunity arises. As the Foreign Secretary has made clear to this House on many occasions, our priority is for the safety of civilians trapped in the fighting in northern Sri Lanka. We will continue to engage with the government of Sri Lanka and international partners to try to alleviate the situation.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call for a briefing to be made to the United Nations Security Council on the political situation in Sri Lanka; if he will propose a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and unfettered access for UN monitors, relief and human rights agencies and the media; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's response to a similar question on 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 141W. We have been working in the UN to ensure the Security Council gets a full briefing on the situation in Sri Lanka. We welcome the briefing given to the UN Security Council by John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, following his visit to Sri Lanka in February. We regularly discuss the situation in Sri Lanka with our partners in the UN Security Council and continue, with them, to monitor the situation carefully.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has called for a humanitarian ceasefire, access for humanitarian agencies and independent monitoring on a number of occasions. The Foreign Secretary has discussed the situation in Sri Lanka with a number of UN Security Council, Commonwealth and EU counterparts, and is in regular contact with the Sri Lankan President and Minister for Foreign Affairs. We will continue to engage with the government of Sri Lanka and international partners to try to alleviate the situation.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with the United Nations on recent reports of deaths of and injuries to peacekeepers in Darfur.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The recent reports of deaths and injuries to peacekeepers in Darfur are cause for grave concern. The UK condemns any acts of violence against the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Darfur (UNAMID), and calls on all parties, including the government of Sudan, to ensure the safety of UN personnel in the region. We have frequent discussions with the UN on UNAMID and the security situation in Darfur. Both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary are kept closely updated on developments.

Tibet: Human Rights

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to promote the human rights concerns of the people of Tibet in  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral forums; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We continue to have concerns about the human rights of Tibetans both in Tibet and the surrounding regions. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took up the question of Tibet with Foreign Minister Jang Jiechi at the UK-China Summit in February. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also raised it with Premier Wen Jiabao at that Summit. As Minister of State for Asia I have also raised Tibet during talks in Beijing with both Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo and Vice-Minister Sita of the United Front Work Department on 20 January. The UK also raised concerns about human rights of Tibetans during China's appearance before the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva on 9 February 2009.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 2204W, on Tibet: politics and government, what consideration he gave to seeking specific undertakings from the Chinese government in advance of the change of UK policy on Tibet.

Bill Rammell: We consider that it would have been inappropriate to negotiate on this matter with the Chinese Government before setting out the position to this House. The change of policy reflects practical reality and is justified in its own right. By setting out our position unambiguously on the status of Tibet it allows us to speak clearly on the subject of human rights there, without allowing others to claim that we are denying China sovereignty over a large part of its territory.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) capital expenditure and  (b) maintenance and running costs for standby diesel generators for backup electricity on the departmental estate in each year since March 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has spent the following on its standby diesel generator. Information prior to 2005 is not available.
	
		
			   
			   Capital expenditure  Maintenance and running costs 
			 2005-06 0 455 
			 2006-07 0 455 
			 2007-08 98,747 585 
			 2008-09 0 585

Public Libraries

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on requirements on  (a) the number of libraries per head of population and  (b) the location of libraries for provision of a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Barbara Follett: DCMS's role is to provide the library sector with strategic vision and leadership, rather than to specify the detail of service delivery appropriate to specific communities across the country.
	The Public Library Service Standards, introduced in 2001 and withdrawn from April 2008, did not include targets for  (a) the number of libraries per head of population or  (b) the location of libraries, although PLSS 1 addressed resident proximity to a library, and varied according to the type of authority (inner and outer London, metropolitan, unitary and county). Failure to meet one or more of the Standards, including PLSS1, did not necessarily signify a breach of the Public Libraries and Museums Act (1964).
	In October last year, the Secretary of State launched the Library Service Modernisation Review which will outline Government's vision for a modern, world-class public library service. The findings, setting out some of the necessary steps to support all local authorities in providing continuously improving, excellent library services will be published in June.

Public Libraries: Wirral

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will consult local library users and library staff on the effects of the proposed closure of public libraries in Wirral on library services in the area.

Barbara Follett: It is the important responsibility of local authorities, not central Government, to consult their residents on the impact of any significant changes to service delivery they propose. DCMS's role is to provide the library sector with strategic vision and leadership, not to specify the detail of service delivery appropriate to specific communities across the country.

TRANSPORT

Bus Services: Training

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to bus operators on driver training in respect of interaction with passengers who are  (a) disabled,  (b) elderly,  (c) young and  (d) difficult or aggressive.

Paul Clark: Drivers have duties with regard to the care of passengers under The Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990. The Department has published guidance for both drivers and operators to accompany the regulations.
	Bus and coach drivers are also required to undertake additional training as part of the recently introduced 'Driver Certificate of Professional Competence' which was introduced in late 2008. This will include areas such as disability awareness and customer service.

Cycling: North East

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle lanes have been introduced in each county in the North East since 2001.

Paul Clark: This information is no longer collected centrally by the Department for Transport as part of our drive to reduce the burden upon local authorities in respect of the information we request annually from them.
	However we do hold some historical information which is produced in the following table. The data are not verified by the department.
	
		
			  Cycle lanes 2001 -0 7 
			2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Highway a uthority  GO  km  km  km  km  km  km 
			 Darlington NE 1 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Durham NE 4 0  6  6 
			 Gateshead NE 2 3 1 1 1 1 
			 Hartlepool NE 0 0 2 2 1 0 
			 Middlesbrough NE 1 6 2 1 4 0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne NE 5  3   1 
			 North Tyneside NE 5 0 3
			 Northumberland NE 4 9 6
			 Redcar and Cleveland NE 2 8 1 0   
			 South Tyneside NE 1 6 0 0   
			 Stockton-on-Tees NE 2 2 4 0 1 0 
			 Sunderland NE 0 0 0 0

Departmental Conditions of Employment

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 362W, on departmental conditions of employment, whether any civil servants have worked on the flexible benefits project.

Geoff Hoon: The project has been lead by a senior civil servant with support from others in addition to their other duties.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks;
	(2)  what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy;
	(4)  what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months;
	(5)  what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department's policy is on encryption of data when they leave departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy.

Geoff Hoon: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	The Department for Transport has IT security policies to protect its IT systems to an appropriate level so as to maintain the availability, integrity and confidentiality of the information they contain. These policies are subject to internal audit processes to ensure they are being followed. The Department has specific policy to ensure that all sensitive information leaving the Department is protected, through the use of secure channels, specific handling instructions or by the use of appropriate encryption. The Department is currently reviewing its IT security policies, procedures and compliance mechanisms to ensure compliance with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance. Depending upon the circumstances, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.
	It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to its security hierarchy or electronic breaches of security of Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.
	Except in exceptional circumstances the Department does not comment on specific technical measures it employs to protect its networks. However, the Department follows CESG guidance on the use of the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) communications security protocols in order to protect wireless networks carrying protectively marked (up to restricted/IL3) traffic. The configuration and operation standards for WPA2 are set out in CESG's Infosec Manual Y, Use of WPA2 Wireless Security in Government Systems. The Department is compliant with HMG 1A Standard No. 4Communication, Security and Cryptography for the encryption of data.
	Compliance arrangements comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review. Records held centrally show that in the last 12 months IT security policies have been broken by staff on 34 occasions and seven staff members have been sanctioned for such breaches.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions he has made in respect of his Department's capital departmental expenditure limits for transport in  (a) each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 and  (b) subsequent years.

Geoff Hoon: The Department's capital departmental expenditure limit (DEL) for 2010-11 was published in pre-Budget report 2008 (Facing global challenges: Supporting people through difficult times CM 7484). The Department's long-term funding guideline was set out in Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (Meeting the aspirations of the British people CM 7227).

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property.

Geoff Hoon: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and includes seven agencies, a shared service centre and the central Department, with a total staff of over 19,000. The figures provided here for lost and stolen property are for the entire Department including its agencies and shared service centre.
	The number of items of lost and stolen property from the Department in the last 12 months and their total estimated replacement cost are as follows.
	
		
			   Number of items  Total estimated replacement cost () 
			 Laptop computers 11 12,028.00 
			 Desktop computers 6 6,072.00 
			 BlackBerrys 22 5,640.00 
			 Printer 1 500.00 
			 Satellite Navigation device 2 300.00 
			 Mobile phone 1 100.00 
			 Leads and Adaptor 2 100.00 
			 Gas Monitoring Device 1 100.00 
			 Overalls 2 88.12 
			 Secure Dial fob 1 50.00 
			 Memory stick 1 10.00

Departmental Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) permanent,  (b) agency and  (c) temporary staff on contracts of (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months and (iv) 12 months or more there are in each directorate of his Department.

Geoff Hoon: This information is not held centrally by the Department of Transport and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the forecast change is to the number of posts in each of his Department's bargaining units by the end of 2009-10.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The following table shows the forecast change in headcount (permanent staff and those on fixed term contracts), expressed as full-time equivalents, between 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010 in the centre of the Department for Transport and each of the Department's bargaining units.
	
		
			   Estimate for 31 March 2009  Forecast for 31 March 2010  Change 
			 Department for Transport Centre(1) 1,930 1,930 0 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 6,329 6,328 -1 
			 Driving Standards Agency 2,672 2,650 -22 
			 Highways Agency 3,557 3,557 0 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1,127 1,127 0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 139 140 1 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 2,762 2,679 -83 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 317 317 0 
			 (1) DfT Centre is still finalising business plans for 2009-10, but the forecast for 31 March 2010 is expected to be similar to the 2008-09 out-turn.

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average basic pay for full-time equivalent  (a) men and  (b) women in (i) AA, (ii) AO and (iii) EO or equivalent grades is in each of his Department's bargaining units.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The current average basic pay for men and women within each of the Department's Bargaining Units is shown in the following table. London and outside London salaries are included within the averages shown. Allowances are not included.
	
		
			   
			   AA  AO  EO 
			   Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male 
			 DFT(C) 17,479 20,100 22,231 22,086 26,425 26,867 
			 VOSA 15,474 15,401 18,986 18,784 23,851 23,853 
			 DVLA 14,911 14,879 17,619 17,572 21,742 21,766 
			 VGA 15,927 17,875 18,555 18,694 24,186 24,553 
			 HA 16,455 15,739 17,168 17,253 21,055 20,980 
			 MCA 14,227 14,155 17,139 17,258 22,278 23,512 
			 DSA 17,261 15,837 18,894 17,519 23,694 23,412 
			 GCDA   20,936 20,718 25,734 26,043 
		
	
	There are only a small number of staff in some of the grades which may affect the statistical significance of the salary levels shown. Additionally there are some differences in grading structures between the Department's businesses so it is not always possible to make direct salary comparisons based on grade. For example the salary range shown for VOSA at AA contains level 1 and level 2 VOSA staff. The above table is therefore a best fit only and this should be taken into account when reference is made to the salary levels.

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current pay  (a) minima and  (b) maxima are for staff at each grade from AA to Grade 6 outside London in each of his Department's bargaining units.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The current pay minima and maxima applicable within the individual bargaining units in the Department for Transport for staff at each grade from AA to Grade 6 outside London are:
	
		
			   
			AA  A0  EO  HEO  SEO  Grade 7  Grade 6 
			 DfT(G) Minimum 16,169 19,426 22,838 27,653 33,516 42,643 52,406 
			  Maximum 16,169 20,355 25,038 31,694 39,225 51,781 63,635 
			  
			 HA Minimum 15,739 16,345 19,833 24,563 36,308 43,412 52,813 
			  Maximum 15,739 18,131 22,552 34,385 42,526 50,846 61,547 
			  
			 DVLA Minimum 13,713 16,500 19,498 25,322 31,768 41,045 56,854 
			  Maximum 15,000 17,725 23,020 28,880 35,380 51,685 63,130 
			  
			 DSA Minimum 13,647 15,317 20,390 24,743 31,856 39,034 50,547 
			  Maximum 16,464 19,595 24,322 29,977 37,833 51,434 62,399 
			  
			 MCA Minimum 13,260 15,066 20,180 24,372 31,299 40,875 49,128 
			  Maximum 14,657 19,073 25,548 30,852 44,352 51,822 62,284 
			  
			 VOSA Minimum 13,242 17,017 21,260 26,351 32,816 41,786 54,497 
			  Maximum 14,223 19,562 26,099 30,231 37,648 56,830 64,787 
			  
			 VCA Minimum 13,900 16,600 21,000 26,000 34,550 43,500 56,900 
			  Maximum 16,250 19,610 25,480 34,450 42,700 56,750 65,820 
		
	
	There are some differences in grading structures between the Department's businesses so it is not always possible to make direct salary comparisons based on grade. For example the salary figures shown for VOSA at AA contains level 1 and level 2 VOSA staff. The table is therefore a best fit only and this should be taken into account when reference is made to the salary levels.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department are responsible for monitoring the expenditure of each of its executive agencies.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 19 March 2009
	The Department for Transport is structured into five groups, each headed by a Director General (DG). Each DG group has an embedded finance team that monitors the financial activity of that group. The Department has four executive agencies and they report into three of these DG groups. The work of the embedded finance teams within these three DG groups includes reviewing the executive agency's outturn. This is completed on a monthly basis with information being passed to the central finance teams and subsequently, in a summarised format, to the Department's Executive Committee.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 487-88W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by his Department in each year since 2005-06.

Geoff Hoon: Details of staff salaries are published in departmental annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the renewal of the contracts of  (a) temporary and  (b) agency staff.

Geoff Hoon: The recruitment of temporary staff is governed by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Code. The Department of Transport has contracts with employment agencies for the supply of agency staff.

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's internal round robin guidance for each round robin Parliamentary Question tabled to his Department since December 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: In its response to the Third Report of Session 2003-04 from the Public Administration Select Committee, the Government made clear that while individual Departments may liaise with each other when they receive the same question, this co-ordination
	does not cut across the line of ministerial accountability which is that it is for individual Ministers to decide on the final content of an answer to a Parliamentary Question.
	The Department for Transport has provided advice to other Government Departments on this basis.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of uninsured drivers aged  (a) under 18,  (b) between 19 and 24,  (c) between 25 and 32,  (d) between 33 and 45,  (e) between 46 and 65 and  (f) over 65 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There is no information held on the total number of uninsured drivers by age. However, the following table shows findings of guilt in court for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risk by age of offender for the period 2004 to 2006.
	
		
			  Findings of guilt at all courts for offences of using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks( 1)  by age group of offender, England and Wales, 2004-06 
			  Number of offences 
			   All ages  10-20  21-30( 2)  31-40  41-50  51-60  61-70  71-80  81 and over 
			 2004 322,816 74,021 160,236 59,655 21,945 5,502 1,198 207 52 
			 2005 289,345 61,223 147,423 52,370 21,485 5,430 1,156 194 64 
			 2006 267,670 50,562 136,850 50,139 22,504 5,987 1,315 239 74 
			 (1) Offence under s143(2) Road Traffic Act 1988 (2) Default age of 25 recorded when age not known.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) percentage of drivers who have used a mobile telephone whilst driving in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table summarises the main results from the latest annual observational survey of drivers using mobile phones. The full report will be published shortly.
	
		
			  Percentage( 1)  of drivers using mobile phones on weekdays, by survey 
			  Percentage 
			   September 2006  August 2007  October 2007  September 2008 
			  Car drivers 
			 Hand-held 1.7 1.0 1.0 1.1 
			 Hands-free 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.5 
			 Overall 2.5 1.4 1.6 1.5 
			  
			  Other drivers 
			 Hand-held 2.9 2.4 1.9 2.2 
			 Hands-free 1.2 0.6 1.0 1.1 
			 Overall 3.9 3.0 2.9 3.3 
			 (1 )Percentage of drivers using a mobile phone, weighted by distance travelled on each road type.  Note: that it is not possible to record the use of hands-free mobile phones accurately on motorways because of the speed of the traffic. 
		
	
	The results are based on a total sample of around 80,000 cars and 20,000 other vehicles observed on weekdays at 30 sites in the South East of England. The overall results have been weighted to reflect the distribution of traffic in Great Britain by road type.

Government Car and Despatch Agency: Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on  (a) London congestion charge (i) payments and (ii) fines and  (b) fines for (i) speeding and (ii) parking in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) has paid the following fines and London congestion charges:
	
		
			   
			   Total parking fines  Congestion charges  Congestion charge fines 
			 2003-04 7,570 179,465.50 160 
			 2004-05 5,610 158,508.00 160 
			 2005-06 7,470 146,846.20 Nil 
			 2006-07 5,900 195,305.90 50 
			 2007-08 15,930 109,538.00 Nil 
		
	
	The agency has paid no speeding fines.

Government Car and Dispatch Agency : Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of the Government Car and Despatch Agency was in each year since 1997; and how much has been allocated to the agency for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information about the cost of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) has been published each year since 1998 in its annual report and accounts, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	GCDA is an executive agency of the Department for Transport and is required to recover all the cost of its activities through charges to its customers. It does not therefore have an annual budget. GCDA has to compete with others to provide services to its customers, ensuring that the Agency operates as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what risks were entered in each version of the Project Heathrow project delivery and risk report in relation to the nature of the responses and outcomes of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport public consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 23 March 2009
	Two such risks were noted: during 2007, the risk that the volume of consultation responses might impact on the timetable for eventual decisions; and in the period April to August 2008, the risk that ministerial decisions might be hampered by lack of clarity in the consultation analysis report on the consultation questions.

Motor Vehicles: Imports

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many imported vehicles from each country were registered and licensed in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The Department for Transport does not hold comprehensive statistics on the number of vehicles imported into Great Britain from 2002 onwards.
	During 2001 there were 68,000 newly registered vehicles that were identified as having been previously registered or used overseas prior to registration in Great Britain. The Department does not hold information on the country in which these vehicles were previously registered or used.

Official Cars

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many cars the Government Car and Despatch Agency has  (a) purchased and  (b) sold in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many cars the Government Car and Despatch Agency  (a) owned and  (b) leased in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government Car and Despatch Agency accounted for its car assets since 2003-04 as follows.
	
		
			   Purchased  Sold  Owned  Leased 
			 2007-08 18 36 213 0 
			 2006-07 85 75 224 0 
			 2005-06 63 94 226 0 
			 2004-05 42 70 251 0 
			 2003-04 32 43 (1) (1) 
			 (1) The vehicle asset register information for 2003-04 is not readily available and this could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Official Cars

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent on fuel in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since 2003-04 the Government Car and Despatch Agency has spent 3,352,937 on vehicle fuels as follows.
	
		
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Petrol 414,493 403,895 449,797 390,574 303,139 
			 Diesel 192,161 193,550 225,131 265,025 371,055 
			 LPG 26,100 35,162 48,291 32,583 1,982

Railways: Employment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1531-44, on new trains (investment), on what information his estimate of the 12,500 long-term jobs expected to be created or safeguarded by the contract to re-equip the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines with new express trains is based;
	(2)  which assumption was made about the number of additional jobs in the supply chain which would be created for each directly-created job in the methodology used to estimate the 12,500 long-term jobs expected to be created or safeguarded by the contract to re-equip the East Coast and Great Western Main Lines with new inter-city express trains.

Paul Clark: holding answer 20 March 2009
	Agility Trains advises that it has adopted an industry standard multiplier assumption, used with regard to the automotive industry, that each direct job will create, or secure, around four jobs within the supply chain and the wider economy.

Railways: Greater Manchester

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train services on average ran on Saturdays in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009 between Manchester and (i) Heald Green, (ii) Bramhall, (iii) Cheadle Hulme, (iv) Gately, (v) Davenport, (vi) Hazel Grove and (vii) Woodsmoor.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold the information at the level of detail requested. Network Rail is the custodian of timetable and performance data for the rail industry. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG

Roads: Accidents

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths on rural roads in which driving under the influence of illegal drugs was identified as a contributory factor there were in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths on rural roads in which drink driving was identified as a contributory factor there were in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths on rural roads in which excessive speed was identified as a contributory factor there were in each (i) local authority area and (ii) constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The tables show the numbers of  (a) accidents and  (b) deaths on rural roads in which 'impaired by drugs (illicit or medicinal)', 'impaired by alcohol' and 'exceeding speed limit' were identified as contributory factors in each Government office region since 2005.
	Information on contributory factors is not available below Government office region level and is only available from 2005. Note that up to six contributory factors can be recorded for an accident, so same accidents may be counted in more than one table.
	
		
			  Accidents( 1)  on rural( 2)  roads with 'Impaired by drugs'( 3)  as a contributory factor 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			  Government office regions  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Deaths 
			 North East 14 1 11 2 11 0 
			 North West 22 5 22 12 26 1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11 1 17 3 26 1 
			 East Midlands 15 1 20 5 17 4 
			 West Midlands 19 2 19 2 18 1 
			 East of England 46 11 38 7 49 10 
			 South East 53 8 45 2 47 19 
			 London 1 0 1 0 2 0 
			 South West 31 4 19 1 32 3 
			 Wales 25 2 15 0 17 4 
			 Scotland 12 3 26 6 24 4 
			 Great Britain 249 38 233 40 269 47 
			 (1) Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported (2) Excluding motorways (3) Drugs can be illicit or medicinal 
		
	
	
		
			  Accidents( 1 ) on rural( 2)  roads with 'Impaired by alcohol' as a contributory factor 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			  Government office regions  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Death s 
			 North East 189 13 165 7 145 7 
			 North West 247 15 272 16 251 7 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 205 10 218 8 258 16 
			 East Midlands 322 11 315 23 331 20 
			 West Midlands 334 18 335 16 294 11 
			 East of England 473 19 442 25 438 23 
			 South East 664 34 654 33 612 28 
			 London 15 1 12 0 9 0 
			 South West 391 17 288 5 333 8 
			 Wales 211 9 215 11 245 12 
			 Scotland 229 15 256 19 246 14 
			 Great Britain 3,280 162 3,172 163 3,162 146 
			 (1) Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported (2) Excluding motorways 
		
	
	
		
			  Accidents( 1)  on rural( 2)  roads with 'Exceeding speed limit' as a contributory factor 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			  Government office regions  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Deaths  Accidents  Deaths 
			 North East 124 12 117 12 114 11 
			 North West 247 31 261 29 247 25 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 189 26 222 28 228 21 
			 East Midlands 304 17 342 28 393 27 
			 West Midlands 348 21 316 29 331 15 
			 East of England 381 22 409 26 363 28 
			 South East 592 41 618 29 626 32 
			 London 23 1 17 0 29 1 
			 South West 423 30 310 15 330 26 
			 Wales 234 14 235 19 235 13 
			 Scotland 205 17 221 42 267 34 
			 Great Britain 3,070 232 3,068 257 3,163 233 
			 (1) Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported (2) Excluding motorways

Roads: Accidents

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of accidents in England on untreated roads during wintry conditions since 19 December 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not collected.

Traffic Lights: Greater London

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic lights there were in each London borough in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Traffic signals in London are the responsibility of the London Mayor and Transport for London (TfL), and questions should be directed to them.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Regulations

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review the effectiveness of building regulations as they relate to the environmental performance of foundation systems.

Iain Wright: Part A (Structure) of the Building Regulations, and its supporting guidance, is primarily concerned with structural safety and performance. There is nothing currently in the regulations that relate to the environmental performance of foundation systems.
	However, Government are keen to improve further the sustainability of the construction process and buildings as set out in the Strategy on Sustainable Construction, published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. As part of the Site Waste Management Plan Regulations, which came into force in 2008, developers are required to identify a planned waste management action for each different type of waste, including on and off-site reuse, recycling and disposal. In relation to foundation systems this can include reusing materials. In addition, in April 2007 we introduced the Code for Sustainable Homes to encourage the development of more sustainable homes. To reach the minimum Code Standards, homes need to consider the environmental performance of all materials used in all elements of the building, which includes the foundations.
	We are currently undertaking a review of Part A of the Building Regulations, and its supporting guidance documents, and we are due to consult on the proposed changes in the summer.

Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has provided to the Institute for Community Cohesion for its project gathering information on social cohesion through surveys and focus groups under the Prevent strand of Project Contest; and when the findings of the project will be published.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government has not commissioned the Institute for Community Cohesion to gather information on social cohesion through surveys and focus groups under the Prevent strand of Project Contest, and as such has not provided any money to the institute for such a project.

Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 476W, on community relations, what research other than that commissioned from the Tavistock Institute and De Montfort University has been commissioned by her Department into  (a) social cohesion and  (b) contributing factors to violent extremism in each year since 2005.

Sadiq Khan: The programmes of research carried out by Communities and Local Government, to understand social cohesion, and to understand contributing factors to violent extremism, include both qualitative and quantitative research.
	The Citizenship Survey, a large scale household survey collecting data on various community attitudes, continues to provide a range of relevant information. NatCen have managed this since 2005 and will continue to run this until 1 April 2009 when a consortium of Ipsos Mori and BMRB take over the contract. Headline data are published quarterly and the anonymised dataset is subsequently published on Essex Data archive.
	We also commissioned the Change Institute to carry out research into 13 Muslim ethnic communities in England, to better understand the diversity of these communities in terms of history, characteristics, demography and potential pathways into the communities.
	We have also worked closely with other Departments to ensure that government's own analysis of violent extremism considers the range of possible contributing factors.
	Research is vital to underpin policies with evidence, and as such, there is also a plethora of research that has been carried out in this field at the local level, run by local authorities.
	Communities and Local Government also commissioned:
	Ipsos-MORI to carry out qualitative case study work in six areas on 'What works to improve Community Cohesion'.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/whatworks
	SQW Consulting to do 'Community Cohesion and Neighbourhood management: a pathfinder national evaluation'.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/986644.pdf
	Ipsos-MORI to carry out local area cohesion surveys in a small number of areas (2005 and 2007). Reports are unpublished.
	The National Community Forum to carry out a literature review on cross-community interactions.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/enablingcrosscommunity
	Laurence and Heath of Oxford University to carry out research called 'Predictors of Community Cohesionmulti-level modelling of Citizenship Survey data'.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/681539.pdf
	In addition the Commission on Integration and Cohesion were tasked by Government to look at local and practical solutions to overcoming barriers to integration and cohesion
	The Commission on Integration and Cohesion commissioned the following research and papers:
	A think piece for the Commission on Integration and CohesionProfessor Daniel Dorling
	Belonging in contemporary BritainAlessandra Buonfino with Louisa Thomson, Young Foundation
	Bringing communities and people togetherComedia
	Challenging attitudes, perceptions and mythsMiranda Lewis and Naomi Newman, IPPR
	Community cohesion and deprivationAsif Afridi, b:RAP
	Community cohesion and the public interestProfessor Shamit Saggar
	Evidence on Integration and cohesionDTZ Consulting
	French Lessons? A cross-channel look at Regeneration, Cohesion and IntegrationDr. Gareth Potts, British Urban Regeneration Association
	Local decision-making and participationOmar Khan and Rob Berkley, Runnymede Trust
	New complexities of cohesion in Britain. Superdiversity, Transnationalism and Civil IntegrationProfessor Steven Vertovec, OMPAS
	Public attitudes towards cohesion and integrationIpsos MORI
	Role of Faith as framing identity and influencing values, attitudes and behaviour of whole communities and the threat posed by 'enclavisation' in some northern towns Dr. Alan Billings and Dr. Andrew Holden, Lancaster University
	The Practical Impacts of Translation: Findings and Recommendations Central Office of Information
	All of this was made publicly available at:
	http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20080726153624/http://www.integrationandcohesion.org.uk/Research_documents.asp

Community Relations: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps her Department has taken to tackle extremism in  (a) Coventry and  (b) the West Midlands.

Sadiq Khan: Regarding support that has been provided by my Department, Coventry was allocated 125,000 in 2008-09 through its area based grant to support work on preventing violent extremism. It has been allocated 150,000 and 162,000 in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively to develop activities outlined in their recently developed prevent action plan.
	I understand that a Prevent Working Group has been developed in Coventry, made up of senior representatives from the police, council, other public agencies, universities and colleges, that will meet for the first time in April. The group will continue to steer and develop understanding of the national preventing violent extremism agenda; local issues and good practice from elsewhere.
	Coventry has also recently developed a communications strategy to help mainstream messages to counter extremism and it is currently developing a programme of activities for young people from diverse communities, which explores issues of identity and challenging extremist ideology, and provides support to the most vulnerable.
	West Midlands authorities will be allocated just under 5.5 million through area based grant between 2008-09 and 2010-11 to support activities to prevent violent extremism.
	Examples of projects in the West Midlands that are helping to prevent violent extremism include work in Birmingham. The Capacity Building and Governance of Mosques programme aims to help build the capacity of Mosque Committees to improve leadership and ensure that women and young people participate in the development of the Mosque. In addition, the programme ensures that Mosques are in compliance with charity law and aware of the laws and regulations of the UK covering areas of Health and Safety, Child Protection and Criminal Record Bureau checks.
	In addition since 2007, Communities and Local Government has funded over 70 projects to tackle violent extremism through the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund. Many of these projects have a national reach, however at least fifteen are working specifically in the West Midlands region. One of these projects has undertaken some focus groups with Muslim women in Coventry to discuss access to mosques for women. Further information on the Community Leadership Fund can be found at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1176921
	Three members of the Young Muslim Advisory Group (YMAG), which my Department supports, are based in the West Midlands. YMAG members have met with Government Office for the West Midlands to discuss how they can support activities working with young people to prevent violent extremism in the region.
	There are also two National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) members in the West Midlands, who are both based in Birmingham. Tasneem Mahmood developed a national project called Hear My Voice that was launched in Birmingham. The project works with disaffected Muslim youth by providing them with social entrepreneur and business enterprise skills to tackle their problems. Shaista Gohir is currently working on a Role Models Project as part of NMWAG to raise the profile of Muslim Female Role Models in the UK.
	West Midlands authorities would be able to provide further information on their recent activity to prevent violent extremism. Further information on funding being made available through Area Based Grant in 2009/10 can be found at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/xls/780467118.xls
	West Midlands authorities would be able to provide further information on their recent activity to prevent violent extremism. Further information on funding being made available through area based grant in 2009-10 can be found at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/xls/780467118.xls

Council Tax

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the amount of uncollected council tax in England in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Details of the amount of council tax not collected in each of the last five years can be found in statistical releases published on the Community and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/ctax.htm
	It should be noted that collection of council tax continues after the financial year to which they relate has ended so the amount not collected will eventually be less than the figures derivable from the releases.

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by her Department on  (a) capital expenditure and  (b) maintenance and running costs for standby diesel generators for backup electricity on the departmental estate in each year since March 1997.

Sadiq Khan: Nil capital expenditure.
	Expenditure on maintenance and running costs for the diesel back-up generator at the Department's HQ at Eland House since July 2004 is as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2004-05 560.00 
			 2005-06 766.00 
			 2006-07 568.00 
			 2007-08 574.00 
			 2008-09 (to date) 4,920.69 
			  Note: Figures prior to 2004 are not available. 
		
	
	There has been nil expenditure incurred at other premises falling within the current CLG estate.

Departmental Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure her Department incurred as a result of overhanging debt repayments in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The table lists the amount of overhanging debt the Department has paid to the Public Works Loans Boards in respect of completed transfers in each of the last five financial years.
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 591 
			 2005-06 386 
			 2006-07 544 
			 2007-08 1,213 
			 2008-09 (1)515 
			 (1) This includes overhanging debt for transfers we expect to be completed by the end of financial year 2008-09.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in her Department in 2008-09 to date.

Sadiq Khan: Costs incurred on reimbursable expenses in 2008-09, will be available only when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2009 summer recess.

Departmental Procurement

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2064-5W, on departmental procurement, for what purposes beverages were purchased from Oddbins by the Deputy Prime Minister's Office.

Sadiq Khan: Beverages were purchased for the purpose of official hospitality. All expenditure in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office was conducted in accordance with the principles of Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Public Consultation

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public consultations her Department has carried out in the last 12 months; for how long each consultation was open; how many responses were received to each consultation; and what the cost was of conducting each consultation.

Sadiq Khan: The number of public consultations conducted between 1 February 2008 and 31 January 2009 was 42. 41 consultations were open for at least 12 weeks, in line with the code of practice. One consultation exercise was given ministerial approval for a shorter period. The number of consultation responses ranged from 83 for the Standing for Office: Time Off Entitlements consultation to 12,000 responses on the Eco towns: Living a greener future consultation. Providing the cost of conducting the consultations could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on the renewal of the contracts of  (a) temporary and  (b) agency staff.

Sadiq Khan: The Department's policy on the renewal of the contracts of temporary staff complies with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. Appointments may subsequently be extended for a further period up to a maximum of 24 months for the overall term of the appointment.
	Agency staff are only employed when there is a strong business case for doing so, in order to fill short-term vacancies or project specific roles, when it has not proved possible to fill the vacancy using available staff in the Department. Agency staff are not employed directly by the Department and do not have civil service contracts. Their employment is time-limited with the expectation that they remain in a position no longer than is necessary for the Department's business needs.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many training courses were taken by  (a) civil servants and  (b) Ministers in her Department in each of the last three years; and what the cost of such training was in each year.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government does not centrally collate information on the training courses taken by civil servants and Ministers within the Department, nor the total cost of training for Ministers.
	However, we do centrally hold the total cost of training spent on civil servants within the Department in the last three years and this is as follows.
	
		
			
			 2005-06 3,564,177 
			 2006-07 2,410,996 
			 2007-08 2,113,042 
		
	
	The information on the training courses taken by civil servants and Ministers within the Department and the cost of training for Ministers could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Equity

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many equity loan completions there were in each region in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: The number of equity loan completions by region from March 2008 to the end of February 2009 is as follows:
	
		
			  Region  Number 
			 North East 40 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 296 
			 North West 412 
			 East of England 975 
			 East Midlands 257 
			 West Midlands 463 
			 London 1,658 
			 South East 1,992 
			 South West 850 
			 Total 6,943

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were rescued from their vehicles by the Fire and Rescue Service in  (a) each fire authority area and  (b) each region in each of the last three years.

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were rescued from their vehicles by the Fire and Rescue Service in each  (a) fire authority area and  (b) region in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: The number of people rescued from their vehicles by fire and rescue services is not reported to the Department under the system in operation for data to 2008-09. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were rescued from flooding by the Fire and Rescue Service in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The number of people rescued from flooding by fire and rescue services is not reported to the Department under the system in operation for data to 2008-09. This information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many incidents involving flooding were attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: Under the reporting system in operation for data to 2008-09, flooding incidents are recorded in a category of 'water removal and provision'. This also includes pumping of drinking water and of other water. Figures for the latest five years are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Water removal or provision incidents attended by fire and rescue servicesEngland 
			   Number 
			 2003-04 9,263 
			 2004-05 11,685 
			 2005-06 10,193 
			 2006-07 11,347 
			 2007-08 14,334 
			  Source: Annual returns to Communities and Local Government

Home Ownership Incentive Schemes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average monthly interest charged by OwnHome  (a) funders and  (b) providers has been since the scheme began.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally.

Home Ownership Incentive Schemes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average income has been of a  (a) first-time buyer,  (b) social tenant and  (c) key worker taking part in the (i) MyChoiceHomeBuy, (ii) HomeBuy Direct and (iii) OwnHome initiative.

Margaret Beckett: The average income of a  (a) first time buyer,  (b) social tenant and  (c) key worker cannot be provided as these categories are not mutually exclusive. The average household income for individuals taking part in MyChoice HomeBuy is 31,155 and for Own Home is 31,601. We do not have any figures for HomeBuy Direct as no sales have yet been completed under HomeBuy Direct, which was launched in September and under which the first properties are just being released. This scheme is only available to first time buyers.

Home Ownership Incentive Schemes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have applied for assistance via the OwnHome scheme; how many applications have been granted; and what the average level of support has been.

Iain Wright: 5,541 applications were made for the Own Home scheme to the end of February 2009, of which 4,285 were approved by the provider for the purchaser to seek a property. Of the 687 applicants that purchased a property up to the end of February 2009, the average level of government funding was 28,772.

Home Ownership Incentive Schemes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have applied for assistance via the First Time Buyers initiative; how many applications have been granted; and what the average level of support has been.

Iain Wright: Since the start of the FTBI programme, 32,275 applications have been registered where the applicant has either specifically mentioned FTBI or included it as one of the HomeBuy products that they are considering. Therefore, the number is not exclusively comprised of FTBI applications.
	Of the total number of applications, around 85 per cent. (27,659) have been approved as eligible for the HomeBuy products, including FTBI.
	To date, around 1,900 homes have been purchased under the FTBI programme, with an average contribution of around 72,000 being made to each purchase.

HomeBuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  on what date she expects the Homebuy Direct scheme to launch; and how many expressions of interest have been received from potential purchasers;
	(2)  how much has been spent on the HomeBuy Direct scheme to date;
	(3)  how many people have applied for assistance via the HomeBuy Direct scheme; how many applications have been granted; and what the average level of support has been.

Margaret Beckett: The HomeBuy Direct scheme is already operating and the first buyers are expected to purchase properties over the next few weeks. No expenditure will be incurred until this happens.
	The Homes and Communities Agency does not collect data on the number of applications foror expressions of interest inthe scheme (data are collected at the point of completion). However, a number of participating developers are reporting high levels of pre-registrations for their HomeBuy Direct properties.

HomeBuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) the Government and  (b) its partners have provided for the MyChoiceHomeBuy scheme; and how much will be provided in each of the next three years.

Margaret Beckett: The Government have provided 126.4 million for MyChoice HomeBuy in 2008-09. This was augmented with funding by the equity loan providers. Over the three years 2008-11, we are investing over 8 billion in affordable housing through the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). We have not allocated specific funds for MyChoice HomeBuy for each of the next two years to allow full flexibility within the Affordable Housing Programme operated by the HCA. Future levels of funds beyond 2010-11 will be dependent upon the next spending review.

HomeBuy Scheme

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties have been purchased via Social HomeBuy in each region in each of the last 12 quarters; what the monetary value of the transactions in each such period was; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the number of properties purchased via Social HomeBuy in England, by region. Social HomeBuy was offered as a pilot project by a small number of local authorities and registered social landlords acting on a voluntary basis.
	
		
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 North East 2 7 
			 North West 4 34 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 12 6 
			 East Midlands 3 2 
			 West Midlands 0 6 
			 Eastern 0 4 
			 London 24 79 
			 South East 2 20 
			 South West 0 2 
			
			 England 47 160 
		
	
	Figures showing the number of registered social landlord (RSL) Social HomeBuy sales are from Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS). The HCA expenditure records also provide the monetary value of the Social HomeBuy sales, and they increased from 536,000 in 2006-07 to 1,912,000 in 2007-08.
	The 2007-08 figures include an additional three local authority Social HomeBuy sales in London, from P1B returns to CLG from local authorities, which are not included in the monetary value.
	These figures are only available annually, not quarterly.

Homes and Community Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what interest was earned on deposits held by the Homes and Community Agency and its predecessors in each of the last five years.

Margaret Beckett: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was established on 1 December 2008. As the HCA uses the Government Banking Service it means that no interest has been earned on any deposits made since that date.
	The predecessor bodies of the HCA were the investment arm of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities, plus former programmes previously run by my Department. No interest was received on deposits by former CLG programmes, the Academy or the Housing Corporation. The following table shows the interest earned on deposits by English Partnerships over the last five years. This information has been taken from audited accounts.
	
		
			  Year ending  31 March each year  Total interest earned by English Partnerships  ( million) 
			 2008 24.8 
			 2007 20.3 
			 2006 20.1 
			 2005 17.6 
			 2004 12.6 
			 Total 95.4 
		
	
	The interest earned on deposits by English Partnerships between 1 April 2008 and 30 November 2008, prior to the creation of the HCA, was 16 million.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of new homes which will be  (a) started and  (b) completed in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.

Iain Wright: Estimates have not been made by the Government of the number of new homes that will be started or completed in 2009 and 2010.

Housing: Construction

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were  (a) started and  (b) completed in each of the last 20 quarters.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the number of new build housing starts and completions in England for each of the last 20 quarters.
	
		
			   New build starts  New build completions 
			  2004   
			 Q1 42,460 31,950 
			 Q2 47,930 39,360 
			 Q3 45,370 39,910 
			 Q4 40,850 42,850 
			
			  2005   
			 Q1 40,400 33,770 
			 Q2 49,210 40,920 
			 Q3 44,780 37,930 
			 Q4 42,740 46,830 
			
			  2006   
			 Q1 48,180 37,720 
			 Q2 47,040 43,250 
			 Q3 39,860 37,670 
			 Q4 42,120 42,220 
			
			  2007   
			 Q1 43,270 44,540 
			 Q2 42,760 43,260 
			 Q3 42,660 38,680 
			 Q4 37,660 48,050 
			
			  2008   
			 Q1 32,800 37,000 
			 Q2 34,050 37,610 
			 Q3 22,220 31,500 
			 Q4 15,950 35,790 
			  Source: New build starts and completions from P2 quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House-Building Council to Communities and Local Government).

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on acquiring unsold stock for affordable housing in each of the last 12 months; and how many properties have been purchased.

Iain Wright: The plan to take advantage of market opportunities to bring private sector developer stock into the affordable housing sector by providing at least 200 million of funding through the Homes and Communities Agency's National Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) for the purchase of unsold homes from house builders was announced in May 2008.
	The amount of grant allocated and number of homes to be provided, by month, is as follows:
	
		
			   Grant ( million)  Homes 
			  2008   
			 June 20 750 
			 July 0 0 
			 August 0 0 
			 September 50 1,410 
			 October 22 650 
			 November 37 1,225 
			 December 35 935 
			
			  2009   
			 January 33 770 
			 February 39 1,000 
			 Total 236 6,740

Housing: Prices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the ratio of median house prices to median earnings was in each of the last 20 quarters.

Iain Wright: The ratio of median house prices to median earnings in England for the years 1997 to 2008 is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Median house prices to median earnings, England 
			   Ratio 
			 1997 3.54 
			 1998 3.67 
			 1999 3.86 
			 2000 4.21 
			 2001 4.47 
			 2002 5.07 
			 2003 5.83 
			 2004 6.58 
			 2005 6.81 
			 2006 6.91 
			 2007 7.26 
			 2008 6.94 
			  Source: Land Registry and the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ONS)

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social sector homes were considered non-decent in each year since 2001; and what estimate has been made of the number so considered in 2008-09.

Iain Wright: The information requested is provided in the following table. It is not possible to make an accurate estimate at the moment for the number of non-decent homes among the whole social stock at end of the current financial year.
	
		
			  Social sector non-decent dwellings 2001-08 
			  As at 1 April each year  Non-decent dwellings (thousand)  Percentage of all social sector dwellings 
			 2001(1) 1,477  
			 2002 1,601 37.6 
			 2003 1,526 36.5 
			 2004 1,367 33.3 
			 2005 1,231 30.5 
			 2006 1,043 26.1 
			 2007 872 21.8 
			 2008 714 18.0 
			 (1) 2001 figures for Registered Social Landlords are not available and are therefore excluded.  Sources: Registered social landlord data from the Regulatory Statistical Return Part Q4 (long), Part Q6 (short). Local authority data from the Business Plan Statistical Appendix.

Local Government: Disclosure of Information

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued on whistleblowing policy in relation to individuals working in child protection in local authorities; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The statutory guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', updated in 2006, makes clear in section 2.8 that all organisations that provide services for, or work with, children, must have appropriate whistle-blowing procedures, and a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children to be addressed.
	Ofsted is currently establishing a whistleblower's hotline for social workers and other front-line staff to alert Ofsted to any serious concerns about practice that fails to ensure the safety and welfare of children. It expects this to be operational from April 2009. At present it is possible for staff with concerns to raise these anonymously by contacting Ofsted's National Business Unit, the contacts for which can be found on the Ofsted website.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what revenues have been raised to date from the levy applied to empty properties in England in the last 12 months.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 10 December 2008,  Official Report, column 195W.

Planning Permission

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate has been made of the number of planning applications the Infrastructure Planning Commission is likely to determine in each year of its operation.

Iain Wright: The original impact assessment estimated that around 45 major projects a year would be considered by the IPC, but made clear that this figure would vary from year to year because supply would depend on market conditions. In January this year we published an Annex to the Planning Bill Impact Assessment, which concluded that despite various changes, we still believe that this is a fair reflection of the Infrastructure Planning Commission's anticipated workload.

Sustainable Development

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions her Department has had on the use of powers under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 with those local authorities planning to use such powers.

John Healey: On 14 October 2008, the Secretary of State invited local authorities in England to prepare proposals they consider, with their local communities, would improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area and to submit these to the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA, which has been appointed as the selector under the terms of the Act, will short-list proposals and work in co-operation with the Government to consider the proposals. Discussions between local authorities and the Secretary of State are not a formal part of the process.

Temporary Accommodation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) households and  (b) households with children were living in temporary accommodation in each of the last 20 quarters.

Iain Wright: Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level.
	Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes so.
	Information on the numbers of households housed in temporary accommodation is reported quarterly by local authorities as at the last day of each quarter. The figure includes: those households which have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty; those for which inquiries are pending; those being accommodated for a limited period because they have been found intentionally homeless and in priority need; those being accommodated pending possible referral to another authority, and those being accommodated pending the outcome of a local authority review or county court appeal.
	The number of households in temporary accommodation at the end of each of the past 20 quarters, and the number which include dependent children (or expected children), is published in Table 6 of the Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, and available on the web and in the Library:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1173159.xls

Tenant Services Authority

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's  (a) management statement and  (b) financial memorandum in respect of the (i) Tenants Service Authority and (ii) Homes and Communities Agency.

Margaret Beckett: The TSA Framework Document has recently been agreed by Whitehall and HM Treasury and the TSA is now preparing this for publication.
	The Department is working with the HCA and other Government Departments, towards finalising corporate documentation that will constitute the Management Statement and Financial Memorandum for the HCA. This documentation is currently in draft and once finalised will be laid before Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

Tenant Services Authority

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date recruitment for the  (a) Tenant Services Authority and  (b) Homes and Communities Agency commenced; and by what date she expects each process to have been completed.

Margaret Beckett: Recruitment for TSA's executive team began week commencing 27 July 2008, these posts were filled between January and March 2009. Recruitment for the assistant directors began on 15 February and will be completed by July 2009 depending on notice periods. The TSA is currently restructuring staff transferred on 1 December from the Housing Corporation. This is due to be substantially completed by July 2009.
	The first recruited post for the Homes and Communities Agency was the position of chief executive designate. This was advertised in July 2007 and the position was filled in March 2008. On 1 December the majority of the HCA's staff transferred from the predecessor bodies. The HCA are currently reviewing the organisation's corporate and regional structures. Until that process is finished it is not possible to specify when the recruitment process will be complete.

Tenant Services Authority

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the restructuring processes involving  (a) the Tenant Services Authority and  (b) the Homes and Communities Agency to have been completed.

Margaret Beckett: The TSA has established an organisational structure to reflect the fundamental objectives that were established for it in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.
	It has also launched a wide consultation with tenants, landlords and other stakeholders about the design of the new regulatory framework that it will introduce under the same Act. This framework will secure better standards of housing provision for tenants of affordable housing and a greater accountability of landlords to their tenants. It will also continue to provide essential regulation of the financial viability of housing associations.
	To support this new regulatory framework, the TSA has begun its restructure with the appointment of its senior management team and it will be complete by autumn 2009 ahead of the introduction of that new regulatory framework.
	The HCA are implementing a Change Plan to move the organisation away from an amalgamation of its predecessor bodies to a single, integrated organisation able to successfully deliver the Single Conversation. This is essential to build more effective structures that will deliver the demanding targets Government have set for housing and regeneration. Implementation will be an ongoing process, subject to review.

HEALTH

Acute Trusts: Financial Status

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards ensuring that financially challenged acute trusts achieve recurring balance.

Ben Bradshaw: Financially challenged was a term introduced in 2007 for those 17 remaining national health service hospitals that were not in a position to deal with their historic debts.
	Since then, 10 of them, including the Royal Cornwall, have agreed solutions and are no longer designated as financially challenged.
	All but one of the remaining seven financially challenged trusts are in London and work is well under way to address their historic debt, but over a slightly longer timescale.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of progress in reducing the level of hospital-acquired infections.

Alan Johnson: We have exceeded our target to halve methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections, with a 65 per cent. reduction on the 2003-04 baseline.
	Since the first quarter in which the current data format was used, April to June 2007, we have seen a 47 per cent. reduction in the number of cases of  Clostridium difficile when compared to the number of cases in July to September 2008, the latest quarter for which data are available.

NHS Executives

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) chief executives and  (b) board members of NHS trusts have been dismissed since 1997.

Alan Johnson: Since 2001 seven non-executive board members of national health service trusts have been removed from office. The Department does not hold information prior to 2001 when the Appointments Commission assumed responsibility.
	Chief executives and other executive directors are employees of their trusts and dismissal is a matter for the trust, acting in accordance with individual employment contracts and general employment law.
	Information regarding dismissals is not collected centrally.

Bilateral Cochlear Implant

John Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future provision of simultaneous bilateral cochlear implant to those who require it.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on 28 January 2009, recommending simultaneous bilateral cochlear as an option for children or adults who are blind or have other disabilities and who are not receiving adequate benefit from acoustic hearing aids.
	Primary care trusts are required to make funding available within three months of final NICE guidance to enable clinicians to follow positive technology appraisal recommendations.

Mental Health Services

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional support he plans to provide to assist mental health care staff to identify mentally ill patients who present a serious threat to themselves and others.

Phil Hope: Judgments about which mentally ill patients present a serious threat to themselves and others are a core clinical skill for frontline mental health clinicians. To support them, last year's review of the Care Programme Approach for mental health service users included a focus on risk and safety management and the Department commissioned a new national training package for staff. In 2007 we also published best practice guidance on managing risk to self and others.

Coeliac Disease

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests for serological testing for coeliac disease have been received by pathology services in England in the last three years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Autism

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve its services to people with autism.

Phil Hope: In April, we will publish good practice guidance on commissioning for the NHS and local authorities and launch consultation on a new national strategy for autism with the aim of publishing the final strategy by December. We will ensure the needs of children with autism are addressed in Children and Young People's Plans.

Financially Disadvantaged: Health

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the factors contributing to poor health outcomes for those in the bottom decile of income.

Dawn Primarolo: Research shows that factors associated with poor health in low-income groups include unemployment, overcrowding, lack of a car, low educational attainment, poor housing and behavioural risk factors, and area deprivation amongst others. I have not made specific analysis of the bottom income decile.

Stroke

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to improve public awareness of the symptoms of stroke.

Ann Keen: Treatment of stroke is time critical. In February we began a very successful public awareness campaign informing people about stroke symptoms using FASTFace Arm Speech Time to call 999, so that they can become stroke savers. The advert has appeared across television, radio, the press and on-line. Recognising symptoms earlier, means people get treatment faster and their outcomes are better.

Social Enterprise

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to promote social enterprise in the health and social care sector.

Phil Hope: My Department is actively promoting social enterprise in health and social care through investment from the 100 million Social Enterprise Investment Fund. The NHS next stage review also promotes social enterprise through its introduction of PCT staffs right to request to set up social enterprises to deliver services.

Individual Budgets

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the operation of individual budgets.

Phil Hope: Over the past year I, and my colleagues, have had several discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and his Junior Ministers, about the operation of individual Budgets.

First Aid Training

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on the inclusion of first aid training in the national curriculum.

Ann Keen: Children and young people can learn about basic and emergency first aid through Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. While PSHE education is currently non-statutory, in October 2008 the Department for Children, Schools and Families announced its intention to make it statutory, and launched an independent review. Proposals for the statutory implementation of PSHE education will be the subject of a full public consultation. My colleagues at DCSF, who lead on this issue, are therefore making progress towards a decision.

Primary Care: Southwark

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future provision of primary care in Southwark; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The local national health service is responsible for providing primary care services to meet the complex health needs of the local population. We are informed that Southwark primary care trust is currently consulting on a five to 10 year strategy for primary and community care, to include the development of four health and social care centres.

NHS Dentists

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure wider access to NHS dental services in Harwich.

Ann Keen: We have been advised by the East of England strategic health authority that North East Essex primary care trust is committed to providing additional dental access to its patients in North East Essex and in particular Harwich and Dovercourt.
	Negotiations have now taken place to increase additional dental activity and will be finalised for the new financial year. In addition, NHS North East Essex is currently going through an application process to increase dental access. Current practices will be applying to provide additional activity in the Harwich and Dovercourt areas.

Health Care Partnerships

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and acute trusts work co-operatively with other local and regional non-health partners.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has introduced the World Class Commissioning programme for primary care trusts (PCTs), providing a clear framework for developing local partnership working.
	A new statutory Duty of Partnership requires PCTs and national health service trusts to participate in Local Strategic Partnerships and the development of local area agreements. In addition, the Department is working to align the performance frameworks for local authorities and the NHS.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over the age of 50 years have been diagnosed with alcoholism in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not held centrally.

Antenatal Care: Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has spent on antenatal care in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. I also refer the hon. member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1027W.

Antidepressants

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 368W, on antidepressants, what amendments were made in December 2008 to strengthen the requirements upon marketing authorisation holders to report on drug safety information emerging from clinical trials  (a) in and  (b) outside the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisation Etc.) Amendment Regulations 2008 explicitly state that reporting requirements for drug safety information apply to information arising from use of the product outside the terms of the marketing authorisation, including use in clinical trials as defined in Article 2(a) of the clinical trials directive. There is no geographical limitation on this requirement. The regulations also state that the reporting requirements apply to information arising from the use of the product in a country which is not a European economic area state. This information must be provided to the licensing authority as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Baby Care Units: Nurses

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many neonatal vacancies there were in  (a) the National Health Service and  (b) each strategic health authority area in England on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many specialist neonatal nurses are employed in  (a) the National Health Service and  (b) each strategic health authority area in England;
	(3)  how many full-time equivalent neonatal nurses are employed by  (a) the National Health Service and  (b) each strategic health authority area in England.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Department has established the National Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by Sir Bruce Keogh, which has four sub-groups, one of which covers neonatal workforce. The workforce subgroup has developed a survey of neonatal workforce, which it has sent to the national health service. The survey results are currently being analysed and the taskforce is due to report in June 2009.

Childbirth

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 634W, on childbirth, what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy in the recording of  (a) gestational age and  (b) birth weight.

Ann Keen: A number of measures are in hand which should improve the accuracy of these data.
	One of the aims of Public Service Agreement 19: Ensure Better Care for All (2007) is to:
	increase the percentage of women who have seen a midwife or a maternity health care professional for a health and social care assessment of needs, risks and choices by 12 weeks of completed pregnancy.
	This assessment will include a dating scan that will be used to calculate the gestational age of the foetus during pregnancy and at birth. As more women benefit from these assessments the accuracy of recorded information on gestational age should improve and together with this the plausibility of weight for age data.
	A maternity data quality dashboard was published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care (IC) in February 2009 for use by national health service trusts and commissioners, enabling them better to monitor progress using the data they have submitted. The dashboard specifically identifies gestation length and birth weight as data fields. Increased local scrutiny of these data should also encourage improvements in data quality.
	In addition, the NHS IC is taking steps to improve the accuracy of maternity data in hospital episode statistics (HES). This should have a positive effect on other information in this area such as that used by the Office for National Statistics to link to registration data.
	The IC now contacts NHS trusts directly when they submit data for HES which contains a high proportion of blank or unknown values in key maternity fields. The IC encourages trusts to investigate why these fields are not being populated and to resubmit data with correct values. The IC has also begun introducing improvements to the annual NHS Maternity Services publication, which includes data on gestational age and birth weight, while ensuring that data problems are transparent so that there is an incentive to improve data quality.

Departmental Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) permanent,  (b) agency and  (c) temporary staff on contracts of (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months and (iv) 12 months or more there are in each directorate of his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the numbers of permanent, temporary and agency staff in the Department as of the end of December 2008.
	
		
			   Fixed term appointment:  
			  Directorates  Employees  Loan in  Secondees in  Agency staff  3 months  3-6 months  6-12 months  12 months  Grand total 
			 Chief medical officer 12.0  1.0  13.0 
			 Chief nursing officer 73.5  2.0 2.0   1.0 4.7 83.2 
			 Commercial 6.06.0 
			 Commissioning and system management 148.3 1.0 3.0 4.0   1.0 1.0 158.3 
			 Communications 103.1 2.0  7.0   1.0 2.0 124.1 
			 Equality and human rights 10.9  1.01.0  12.9 
			 Finance and operations 540.5 5.0 4.0 35.3 1.0 3.0  6.5 619.8 
			 Health improvement and protection 211.7 8.0 8.0 6.0   2.0 3.0 239.7 
			 Health inequalities unit 2.0   1.0 3.0 
			 NHS chief executive officer 7.0  5.0 1.0   1.0  14.0 
			 NHS finance, performance and operations 178.0 1.0 10.0 5.0 2.0 2.0  1.0 200.0 
			 NHS medical director 183.4  4.8 3.01.0 194.2 
			 Policy and strategy 136.9 1.0 2.0 8.6  1.0 2.0 3.0 155.5 
			 Regional Public Health Groups 104.6  23.5 6.0  1.0 1.0 1.0 140.1 
			 Research and development 48.1 0.5 3.0 1.0 52.6 
			 Social care, local government and care partnerships 143.1 3.0 2.0 1.0  1.0 1.0 1.0 152.1 
			 Work force 154.8   5.0  1.0   164.8 
			 Miscellaneous 11.2 1.8 35.0 32.2   1.0  98.2 
			   
			 Grand total 2,075.1 23.3 104.3 118.1 3.0 9.0 12.0 24.2 2,431.7 
			  Notes: 1. Data included are as at 31 December 2008. 2. Figures include staff on secondment or loan into the Department, and exclude staff on secondment or loan out of the Department.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the announcement of 3 February 2009 on safeguarding Government infrastructure investment, whether any of his Department's  (a) under spends on previous projects and  (b) unallocated funds will be used to provide funding for the private finance initiative projects referred to;
	(2)  with reference to the announcement of 3 February 2009 on safeguarding Government infrastructure investment, which of his Department's projects are included within the 110 projects referred to; and how much the Government plan to lend to each of those projects in each financial year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government announced on 3 March that they will lend to private finance initiative (PFI) schemes that cannot raise sufficient debt finance on acceptable terms. This lending facility will be run by the Treasury. All projects in procurement, meaning the 110 PFI schemes which have issued a notice to go out to tender in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) but have not yet reached financial close, will be eligible for this finance from the Government. The 475 million North Bristol NHS trust Southmead hospital redevelopment is one of these schemes.
	The North Bristol scheme is not at the stage where the private sector counterpart needs to raise finance. The Department will work with the trust and its advisers and the preferred bidder (when confirmed) and its advisors to monitor closely the general banking situation to see if it is necessary to approach the Treasury lending facility.
	Funding for this lending facility will be provided from across Government, including initially from unallocated funds and Departmental under spends on previous projects. The Treasury Budget Report published in April this year will contain information on the year end position for the 2008-09 Department capital budget. The Department's capital plans for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are still being finalised

Departmental Publications

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the propositions contained in Religion or belief: a practical guide for the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: In January 2009, the Department published Religion or Belief: A Practical Guide for the NHS as part of a suite of guides, covering different aspects of equality, to help national health service organisations publish better equality schemes, review, and if needs be, improve their equality performance for patients and staff. For the most part, the contents of all the guides are neither mandatory nor new. If a NHS organisation needs to adjust its practice, it should do so with due regard to its statutory obligations and current performance levels, and its own resources.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2173-4W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of the new  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by his Department in each year since 2005-06.

Ben Bradshaw: To make an estimate of the costs of salaries for those staff recruited in each of the years since 2005-06 would incur disproportionate costs to establish.
	Information about the costs of staff salaries, more generally, is published in departmental annual reports. These can be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/AnnualReports/index.htm#jumpTol

Departmental Temporary Employment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the renewal of the contracts of  (a) temporary and  (b) agency staff.

Ben Bradshaw: The recruitment of temporary staff is governed by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Code, which can be downloaded at:
	www.civilservicecommissioners.org/Reference_Documents/Recruitment_Code_Reference/
	The Department uses contracted agency staff to meet short-term business needs.
	Departmental policy is to renew only those contracts where there is a strong continuing business need. This need is determined through a business case approval process.

Departmental Travel

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department was of petrol for official travel by private car in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no statutory requirement to report on petrol costs as a separate item in the annual accounts. Also, it is not possible to answer this question on the basis that we cannot disaggregate and identify how much was spent on mileage claims either as the data are only recorded as part of the total spend for travel and subsistence.
	However, in July the Department introduced a new finance system, which will allow for a more detailed breakdown of the data collected, we can therefore provide details of the amount spent on mileage claims since July 2008.
	The rates reimbursed by the Department are in line with other Government Departments and have HM Revenue and Customs approval. The Department reimburses staff at a rate of 40p per mile for the first 4,000 miles and 25p a mile thereafter for use of a private motor vehicle on official business. The rate reimbursed when a motorcycle is used for official business is 24p per mile.
	It should be noted that these rates relate to both petrol and diesel and includes elements to cover for depreciation etc. It is not intended that the rate should solely cover fuel costs.
	Since 1 July 2008, the Department has reimbursed staff a total of 111,030.00 in mileage claims.

Diabetes: Syringes

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on charging for the disposal of used needles from diabetics.

Ann Keen: The Department's guidance document Health Technical Memorandum 07-01: Safe management of healthcare waste contains information relating to local authorities' responsibilities for the disposal of clinical waste, which includes used needles from diabetics. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library. Paragraph 2.8 of the document states:
	Local authorities have specific duties in relation to healthcare waste. Section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act (in Northern Ireland, Article 20 of the Waste and Contaminated Land Order) states that it is the duty of each waste collection authority to arrange for the collection of household waste in its area. It also states that the authority may make a reasonable charge for the collection of certain types of household waste to reflect the higher disposal costs and separate collection arrangements that have to be made. Types of household waste for which a charge for collection can be made are listed in Schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations. These include clinical waste from a domestic property.

Diabetes: Wiltshire

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of  (a) type 1 and  (b) type 2 diabetes were diagnosed in each age group in the NHS Wiltshire area in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.
	The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) contains disease registers for adult diabetics (ages 17 and over). These registers are available from 2004-05 and show four years of data. The registers do not distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and do not give the age group of the patient.
	
		
			  Primary care trust (PCT)  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT 5,899 6,324 n/a n/a 
			 South Wiltshire PCT 3,440 3,663 n/a n/a 
			 West Wiltshire PCT 4,045 4,233 n/a n/a 
			 Wiltshire PCT 13,384 14,220 14,980 15,944 
			  Note: Wiltshire PCT was formed in October 2006 by the merger of West Wiltshire PCT, South Wiltshire PCT and Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT. Figures for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are the sum of the figures for these three PCTs. Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are for Wiltshire PCT.

Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) male and  (b) female patients were on clinical disease registers in (i) each primary care trust in London and (ii) each strategic health authority area in each of the last three years; what proportion of the total number of patients on practice lists in each area such patients represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: A copy of the information requested on clinical disease registers has been placed in the Library.

Health Education: Finance

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department is providing to  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) hospital trusts to promote healthy eating and exercise in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: Funding to the national health service is provided mainly directly to primary care trusts (PCTs) (74 billion in 2008-09). PCTs then commission services to meet the health needs of their populations, including from primary care providers and hospital trusts. PCT allocations are not broken down into funding for individual policy streams such as the promotion of healthy eating and exercise. Rather, the Department is clear about outcomes it wants the NHS to deliver in the Operating Framework, including commitments on childhood obesity. It is for the NHS to decide locally how best to deliver those commitments including how much resource to invest.

Hearing Impaired: Children

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children of each age under 17 years old have become deaf in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The number and ages of deaf children in England is not collected centrally. Instead, data are collected on the number of children who are registered as deaf or hard of hearing. Inclusion on the register is voluntary and therefore, does not provide a complete picture of the number of children in England who are deaf or hard of hearing.
	As at 31 March 2007, 3,400 people aged 0-17 years were registered as deaf in England (4,100 were registered as hard of hearing).
	Registers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (SSDA910) are collected by the NHS Information Centre every three years, and was last collected in 2006-07. This collects the number of people registered as deaf or hard of hearing with councils with social services responsibilities (CSSR).

Hospitals: Admissions

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the documents and parliamentary statements in which the Government's policy on the categories of patients who may be admitted to NHS community hospitals in England is set out.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not categorise patients in this way. Community hospitals are places that can offer a broad range of diagnostic and treatment services where these can be provided safely and appropriately away from specialist centres. Admissions will depend on the mix of services available and the clinical needs of individual patients.

Hospitals: Construction

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the community hospital capital projects which have been approved to date under the 750 million of capital expenditure for community hospitals over five years announced by his predecessor the right hon. Member for Leicester West, stating in each case  (a) the name of the community hospital and its location,  (b) a brief description of the capital works,  (c) the capital cost approved and  (d) the date of approval.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table indicates name and location of community hospital, a description of the capital works, the capital contribution approved by the Department, and the date the scheme was approved.
	
		
			  Name of community hospital and location  Description of capital works  Capital contribution approved by the Department ( million)  Approval date 
			 Washington primary care centre, Sunderland New build 8.95 December 2006 
			 Gosport War Memorial hospital, Portsmouth Redevelopment 6.122 December 2006 
			 Yate Community health centre, South Gloucestershire Redevelopment 5.0 December 2006 
			 Minehead Healthy Living Park, Somerset Redevelopment 24.5 December 2006 
			 Hornsey community hospital, Haringey New hospital 1.658 April 2007 
			 South Bristol community hospital, Bristol New hospital 1.0 April 2007 
			 Barking hospital, Essex Refurbishment 5.0 April 2007 
			 Teddington health and social care centre, London New 3.98 April 2007 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees community services, Yorkshire and Humber New and refurbishment 13.08 April 2007 
			 Ashfield community hospital, Nottingham New 1.149 April 2007 
			 Felixstowe general hospital, Suffolk Redevelopment 1.76 April 2007 
			 Hastings primary health care centre, Sussex New 12.29 April 2007 
			 Royal South Hants hospital, Southampton Redevelopment 6.079 April 2007 
			 Rotherham primary care centre, Rotherham New and refurbishment 0.96 April 2007 
			 Hartlepool primary care facility, Teeside New build 3.0 December 2007 
			 St. Charles hospital, London Redevelopment 10.5 December 2007 
			 Keynsham Health Park, Bath and North East Somerset New build 5.8 December 2007 
			 Berkeley Vale, Gloucestershire Redevelopment 6.44 December 2007 
			 Selby health and community campus, North Yorkshire and York Redevelopment 13.03 December 2007 
			 North Cotswolds, Gloucestershire New build 11.03 December 2007 
			 St. Mary's community hospital, Portsmouth Redevelopment 17.1 December 2007 
			 Malvern community hospital, Worcestershire Refurbishment 19.22 December 2007 
			 East Riding community hospital (Beverley, Hornsea and Driffield), Yorkshire New and refurbishment 17.0 December 2007 
			 Finchley Memorial hospital, Barnet Redevelopment 9.9 June 2008 
			 Eltham and Mottingham hospital, Greenwich New build 4.58 June 2008 
			 Health and social care centre at Kings Avenue, Ashford, Kent New build 9.0 June 2008 
			 Thame, Buckinghamshire Redevelopment 4.0 June 2008 
			 St. Thomas', Stockport New build 20.072 June 2008

Hospitals: Food

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average expenditure by the NHS on meals per hospital patient per day in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information provided to the Department shows that for the period 2007-08, the average cost of feeding one patient per day was 6.97.
	This cost relates to the average daily cost for the provision of all meals and beverages fed to one patient per day, across all national health service trusts in England. The cost should include all pay and non-pay costs, including provisions, ward issues, disposables, equipment and its maintenance.
	The information has been supplied by the national health service and has not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated for healthcare-acquired infections in  (a) the Eastern area and  (b) England in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. The best available data are from the mandatory surveillance system, which covers Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections,  Clostridium difficile ( C.difficile) infections, Glycopeptide resistant enterococci infections, and orthopaedic surgical site infections operated for the Department by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
	Data for England and the East of England respectively are provided in the following tables. Regional data are not available for surgical site infections.
	Since April 2001, all acute national health service trusts in England have been obliged to report all cases of bloodstream infections caused by MRSA.
	These data comprise all specimens processed by NHS acute trust laboratories, not just those from in-patients and include infections acquired in hospital and elsewhere. These data are only available by financial year.
	
		
			  Number of cases of bloodstream infections caused by MRSA 
			  April to March each year  England  East of England 
			 2003-04 7,700 684 
			 2004-05 7,233 725 
			 2005-06 7,096 678 
			 2006-07 6,383 529 
			 2007-08 4,448 333 
		
	
	All acute NHS trusts in England are obliged to report all cases of  C. difficile infection in people aged 65 years and over since January 2004.
	These data comprise all specimens processed by NHS acute trust laboratories, not just those from in-patients and include infections acquired in hospital and elsewhere.
	
		
			  Number of cases of C. difficile infection in people aged 65 years and over 
			  Calendar year  England  East of England 
			 2004 44,563 5,418 
			 2005 51,829 5,953 
			 2006 55,635 6,420 
			 2007 50,461 5,807 
		
	
	In April 2007, mandatory surveillance was extended to include all patients aged two years and over, but these data are not included in the table.
	Since October 2003, all acute NHS trusts in England are obliged to report all cases of blood stream infections caused by glycopeptide resistant enterococci.
	These data comprise all specimens processed by NHS acute trust laboratories, not just those from in-patients and include infections acquired in hospital and elsewhere. These data are available from October to September; they are not available by calendar year.
	
		
			  Number of cases of blood stream infections caused by glycopeptide resistant enterococci 
			  October to September each year  England  East of England 
			 2003-04 628 74 
			 2004-05 757 92 
			 2005-06 903 122 
			 2006-07 910 111 
		
	
	Since April 2004, the following data have been collected from the mandatory surveillance of surgical site infections (SSIs) in orthopaedic categories in English NHS hospitals. Hospitals carrying out orthopaedic surgery have to participate in the surveillance of at least one category for at least one quarter of the year. All of the SSIs reported are identified during the in-patient period.
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Surgical category  Number of operations  Number of SSIs  Number of operations  Number of SSIs  Number of operations  Number of SSIs  Number of operations  Number of SSIs 
			 Hip prosthesis 16,765 211 21,046 190 25,397 181 28,510 145 
			 Knee prosthesis 15,848 103 22,843 128 25,167 96 30,605 87 
			 Open reduction of long bone fracture 3,277 66 2,774 44 3,678 69 3,752 35 
			 Hip hemiarthroplasty 5,396 219 6,328 230 6,709 211 6,333 151

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been admitted to hospital with knife wounds in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Information has been provided on the number of finished admission episodes for two clinical codes. Code x99 covers assault by a sharp object, and code w26 covers accidental contact knife, sword or dagger. Data for both these clinical codes have been provided for the years 1996-97 to 2007-08.
	The data provided include all activity in national health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the English NHS.
	Reference should be made to the footnotes and clinical codes when interpreting the data.
	
		
			  Total number of admissions to hospital for assault by a sharp object (X99) and contact with knife, sword or dagger (W26), for years 1996-97 to 2007-08 
			   Contact with knife, sword or dagger  Assault by sharp object 
			 1996-97 3,401 3,942 
			 1997-98 3,730 3,875 
			 1998-99 4,002 3,667 
			 1999-2000 4,462 4,125 
			 2000-01 4,607 4,249 
			 2001-02 4,667 4,642 
			 2002-03 4,805 4,275 
			 2003-04 4,921 4,774 
			 2004-05 4,939 5,072 
			 2005-06 5,321 5,496 
			 2006-07 5,284 5,720 
			 2007-08 5,031 5,239 
			  Notes: 1. Assignment of episodes to years: Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay. 2. Finished admission episodes: A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 3. Cause codeblunt object, sharp object and gunshot wounds: The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. HES has used the following ICD-10 external cause codes when assault by sharp object and contact with knife, sword or dagger. X99Assault by sharp object W26Contact with knife, sword or dagger 4. Data quality: hospital episode statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 5. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 6. Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital episode statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each  (a) strategic health authority and  (b) healthcare provider area had diagnosis codes of (i) W32, (ii) W33, (iii) W34, (iv) W50, (v) X93, (vi) X94, (vii) X95 and (viii) X99 or Y00 in each of the last six years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information has been provided on the number of finished admission episodes for all requested codes for strategic health authority (SHA) of residence and health care providers. The codes have been grouped together because it is not possible to provide individual codes for health care providers because the number involved are so small, they would need to be suppressed in order to preserve anonymity. In addition, the numbers for individual codes have been provided at SHA level. Small numbers have been suppressed and replaced with '*'. The information has been placed in the Library.
	References should be made to footnotes when examining the data. It should be noted that a finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

Khat

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of people regularly using khat.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not collect this information.
	However, the Home Office is planning to add questions to the British Crime Survey from October 2009 to ask respondents about self-reported use of khat ever, in the last year and in the last month.

Learning Disability

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the number of people with a learning disability who are preserved rights service users.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Leukaemia: Health Services

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on  (a) treatment of and  (b) support for people diagnosed with leukaemia in (i) England, (ii) the North East, (iii) Tees Valley district and (iv) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows expenditure on haematological cancer, which includes leukaemia, for 2006-07, the first year that these data were collected at sub-category level. Information is provided for England, and for primary care trusts (PCTs) which serve the North East Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, including the Tees Valley District, and Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency.
	
		
			  Expenditure on Haematological Cancer, 2006-07 
			  Primary care trusts  Expenditure () 
			 County Durham PCT 4,302,000 
			 Darlington PCT 611,000 
			 Gateshead PCT 1,179,000 
			 Hartlepool PCT 514,000 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 1,476,000 
			 Newcastle PCT 1,734,000 
			 North Tyneside PCT 1,153,000 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 1,218,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 1,263,000 
			 South Tyneside PCT 1,258,000 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 1,000,000 
			   
			 England 470,869,000 
			  Notes:  1. England data include the Department, SHA, Special Health Authority as well as PCT expenditure.  2. PCT data include spend by national health service foundation trusts.   Source:  Programme Budgeting.

Leukaemia: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on  (a) treatment of and  (b) support for people diagnosed with leukaemia in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and East and North Hertfordshire PCT expenditure on haematological cancer which includes leukaemia, for 2006-07, the first year that these data were collected at sub-category level is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 2.3 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 2.0

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric beds for the treatment of prisoners with mental health disorders there are in each prison institution; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: There are no dedicated national health service psychiatric beds within the prison service. However, as part of the Government's commitment to improving the mental health of high risk offenders with personality disorder, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) currently provides 168 beds which provide specialist psychological interventions in three prison pilot sites.
	The responsibility for prison mental health care transferred fully to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2006. All prison mental health services are now mainstreamed within the NHS, where the Offender Assessment System reception-screening tool can assess quickly all prisoners with health concerns, including mental illness, and, where appropriate, refer them to mental health inreach teams.
	NHS prison mental health services are provided through 102 inreach teams, to which all prisons have access. Not everyone with a severe mental illness needs care in a psychiatric bed, even in an emergency. Most mental health treatment and care is delivered in prison primary care settings, as is other NHS treatment (e.g. for prisoners with diabetes or heart disease) unless urgent treatment is needed, when prisoners can be transferred to the NHS outside of the prison service.
	A person whose mental illness is too severe to justify their remaining in prison is transferred to NHS secure services. In 2007, 934 prisoners with severe mental illness were transferred to hospital, compared to 723 in 2002, an increase of 29 per cent.
	The Government asked Lord Bradley in December 2007 to carry out a review into diversion away from prison of offenders with mental health or learning disability problems. We expect to publish Lord Bradley's report by the end of April 2009, and to issue the Government's response at the same time. The Department, Ministry of Justice and Home Office will publish Improving Health, Supporting Justice an offender health strategy later this year, which will take account of the recommendations that Lord Bradley will make.

Mentally Ill

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 145W, on mentally ill: young people, what the rate of admissions for mental health conditions per 1,000 admissions for 18 to 21 year-olds was for  (a) university hospitals,  (b) other hospitals and  (c) all hospitals in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The exact data requested are not held centrally. However, the data available on the rate of admissions for mental health conditions per 1,000 admissions have been placed in the Library.
	 Note:
	The Information Centre cannot provide breakdown by hospital so we have produced the analysis using Provider.

Mentally Ill: Prisoners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of prisoners have been diagnosed with mental health problems relating to time served in the armed forces in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally.
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is currently undertaking research on ex-service personnel in prisons. The MOJ aims to have initial findings on the proportion of veterans among the prison population and their spread across establishments in England and Wales later this year. Research would follow this on the nature of veterans offending and the factors that might have contributed.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will establish a public inquiry into the performance of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust;
	(2)  what the remit is of each of the inquiries established by the Government and announced in his oral Statement of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 909-24, on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, to examine matters arising out of the Healthcare Commission's findings on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust; and when he expects each of those inquiries to  (a) commence and  (b) complete their work.

Ben Bradshaw: No. The Healthcare Commission is an independent regulator. In view of their thorough investigation and report, together with the resulting recommendations, we do not consider it necessary to hold a public inquiry into events at the Mid Staffordshire National Health Service Foundation Trust. We are satisfied that the Healthcare Commission's report covered all the key issues and is the result of a robust investigation.
	Professor Sir George Alberti, one of the country's most respected experts in emergency care, has been asked to independently review the Trust's procedures for emergency admissions and treatment and its progress against the recommendations in the report. In addition, Dr. David Colin-Thom, National Director for Primary Care, will in parallel review the circumstances that occurred at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust prior to the Healthcare Commission's investigation in order to learn lessons nationally about how the commissioning system failed to expose and prevent the failings which have been identified.
	Both of these reviews are not intended to duplicate the work already undertaken by the Healthcare Commission and the findings are expected to be published following the Easter recess. The letters to both Professor Alberti and Dr Colin-Thom have been placed in the Library.
	The National Quality Board has also been asked to look at the alignment of the national systems and processes in place for detecting and responding to potential serious failings in patient care in light of the Healthcare Commission's report. The detailed terms of reference are in development and will be finalised shortly when they will be made public. This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
	The new leadership team at the Trust is also committed to carrying out an independent review of the case notes where this is requested by relatives of patients in order to determine if the care provided was appropriate.

Multiple Sclerosis

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis there are in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on  (a) treatment of and  (b) support for people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in (i) England, (ii) the North East, (iii) Tees Valley district and (iv) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of people diagnosed with specific medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, and the cost of their treatment and support, is not collected.

Multiple Sclerosis: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on  (a) treatment of and  (b) support for people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis there are in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of people diagnosed with specific medical conditions including multiple sclerosis, and the cost of their treatment and support, is not collected.

Neonatal Mortality: Research

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much and what proportion of its budget the Medical Research Council plans to spend on researching neonatal mortality in 2008-09;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of its budget the National Institute for Health Research plans to spend on researching neonatal mortality in 2008-09;
	(3)  how much and what proportion of its budget his Department's Policy Research Programme plans to spend on researching neonatal mortality in 2008-09;
	(4)  how much is being spent by the Government on researching the causes of neonatal and stillbirth deaths in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information in respect of research concerned with neonatal death is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated expenditure on neonatal mortality research 2008-09  000  Proportion of total expenditure (percentage) 
			 National Institute for Health Research(1) (NIHR) 846 0.14 
			 Policy Research Programme(2) (PRP) 1,514 4.6 
			 Medical Research Council (MRC) (3) (3) 
			 (1) This figure does not include the cost of projects undertaken in the NHS and supported by NIHR transitional support funding. That information is not available. (2) Includes the total financial allocation made in 2008-09 to the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit and the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit. (3 )Not yet available 
		
	
	The NIHR clinical research network is additionally supporting a number of potentially relevant studies. Details are available on the network's portfolio database at:
	www.ukcrn.org.uk/index/clinical/portfolio_new.html
	The estimated total NIHR and PRP expenditure on neonatal mortality and stillbirth research in 2008-09 is 4.6 million. Again, information in respect of MRC spend in these areas is not yet available.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications for Foundation Trust status were under assessment by the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts on the latest date for which figures are available; and what criteria are used in the authorisation of such applications.

Ben Bradshaw: We are informed by the chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts) that as at 20 March 2009 there are 20 applicants for NHS foundation trust (NHS FT) status in Monitor's assessment process. The list of applicants is updated on Monitor's website:
	www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/home/becoming-nhs-foundation-trust/current-applicants
	A detailed description of the assessment process for NHS FT applicants is set out in the document Applying for NHS Foundation Trust StatusGuide for Applicants (Monitor and the Department of Health, November 2008). A copy of this document has been placed in the Library and is also available from Monitor's website:
	www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/home/becoming-nhs-foundation-trust
	Monitor has three main criteria which it applies to all applicants for NHS FT status. The applicant trust must be:
	Legally constituted;
	Well governed; and
	Financially viable.
	Monitor's intensive assessment process takes approximately three months. Trusts must submit a wide range of information as evidence to support each category. Monitor reviews all the evidence submitted triangulating with key trust stakeholders including primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and the Healthcare Commission, and probes the boards of each applicant trust to examine their capability to operate autonomously by questioning different aspects of their application, examples of which include:
	Does the board have arrangements in place for monitoring and continually improving the quality of health care provided to its patients?
	How is the board assured that it has action plans in place to meet existing targets and national core standards?
	Are there clear structures and comprehensive procedures in place for the effective working of the NHS foundation trust board?
	Is the board confident that the senior management has the capability to and experience necessary to deliver the strategy set out in its business plan?

NHS: Administration

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many administrators were employed by the NHS in England in  (a) each of the last three years,  (b) 1996-97,  (c) 1997-98 and  (d) 1998-99.

Ann Keen: The number of administrative and clerical staff employed by the national health service in England in the years requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Administrative and clerical staff in England by area of work as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Headcount 
			   1996  1997  1998  2005  2006  2007 
			 England 160,347 160,479 162,521 233,174 224,302 220,187 
			
			 Central functions(1) 70,621 70,647 71,079 105,565 101,860 100,177 
			 Hotel, property and estates(2) 11,604 10,782 10,025 8,553 7,107 6,831 
			 ST and T support(3) 12,760 12,584 12,703 16,028 14,731 13,857 
			 Clinical support(4) 62,882 63,971 66,145 99,742 97,357 95,982 
			 Ambulance service support(5) 2,480 2,495 2,569 3,286 3,247 3,340 
			 (1)This group includes areas such as personnel, finance, IT, legal services, library services, health education and general management support services. (2)This group includes clerical and administrative staff working in areas such as laundry, catering, domestic services and gardens. (3)Scientific, therapeutic and technical support staff. (4) Clinical support includes clerical and administrative staff and maintenance and works staff working specifically in clinical areas, for example medical secretaries and medical records officers. (5)Staff in direct support of patient care, such as control assistants.  Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Non-profit Making Associations

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on pathfinder sites for the development of social enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally. The Department's approach is to let the Pathfinders make progress and then evaluate them. The Department has commissioned an external evaluation of the Social Enterprise Pathfinders. The evaluation report is expected in July 2009.

Non-profit Making Associations

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been provided by his Department to each social enterprise pathfinder site.

Phil Hope: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  Name of social enterprise pathfinder organisation  Award () 
			 North East Delivering Connected Care in Hartlepool 318,255 
			  Developing Partners Project 137,534 
			  Dementia Care Partnership 548,755 
			
			 North West Alston Healthcare 1,270,500 
			  Salford Health Matters 312,275 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber City Healthcare Partnership 134,000 
			  The Open Door 2,392,648 
			
			 East Midlands Leicester Homeless Primary Care Service 45,970 
			  Principia Partners in Health 63,000 
			
			 West Midlands Apnee Sehat 238,898 
			  Health Equality Lifestyle Plan 134,000 
			  Willow Bank CIC 72,700 
			
			 East of England Healthy Living Centre Southend 555,000 
			  Lifestyle Solutions 705,000 
			
			 London Bromley By Bow 147,728 
			  Service User Led Direct Payments 442,000 
			  The Bridge 95,000 
			  Secure Healthcare 493,000 
			
			 South East Coast MiLife (Formerly Lorica Learning Disabilities) 274,789 
			  Surrey Community Provider Services 185,000 
			
			 South Central Milton Keynes Health and Social Care 87,000 
			  SCA Healthcare 946,100 
			
			 South West Community Docs for All 81,664 
			  Devon Healthy Living CIC 266,026 
			  Forest of Dean Health Enterprise Trust 101,500

Nurses: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) headcount and  (b) full-time equivalent GP practice nurses there were in each year since 1997.

Ann Keen: The number of general practitioner (GP) practice nurses by headcount and full-time equivalent in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:
	
		
			  GP practice nurses in England, 1997-2007 
			   Number (headcount)  Full-time equivalent 
			 1997 18,389 10,082 
			 1998 18,894 10,359 
			 1999 19,495 10,689 
			 2000 19,200 10,711 
			 2001 19,846 11,163 
			 2002 20,983 11,998 
			 2003 21,667 12,967 
			 2004 22,144 13,563 
			 2005 22,904 13,793 
			 2006 23,797 14,616 
			 2007 22,860 14,554 
			  Notes:  1. Data as at 1 October 1997-99, 30 September 2000-07.  2.  Data Quality Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Palliative Care

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS resources for long-term palliative care; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for funding, developing and delivering end of life care services locally and it is for them to decide on the adequacy of the resources they allocate.
	To support the End of Life Care Strategy, published in July 2008, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, a survey was conducted of PCT expenditure on specialist palliative care, including hospices. This showed the level of local resources used in these services and provides a helpful benchmark for PCTs. However, the resources used for 'generalist' palliative care, that is, care which could be provided by any health or social care practitioner, are impossible to determine.
	Work to develop the strategy showed that money spent in end of life care is not always as well used as it might be. A key aim of the strategy is, therefore, to ensure better use of existing resources. In addition, the Government are investing an extra 286 million in end of life care services over the two years 2009-10 and 2010-11. This will help support those areas, such as training and the development of community services, that need special attention.

Perinatal Mortality

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trusts and primary care trusts about the provision of support to parents whose children are stillborn;
	(2)  how many specialist neonatal intensive care units there are in each strategic health authority area in England;
	(3)  what steps the Government has taken to prevent stillbirths and neonatal deaths in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The maternity standard of the National Service Framework for Children Young People and Maternity Services, published in September 2004, includes guidance for national health service maternity care providers on the provision of comprehensive, culturally sensitive, multi-disciplinary policies, services and facilities for the management and support of families who have experienced a maternal or neonatal death or stillbirth. A copy of the framework has already been placed in the Library. In addition, When a patient dies: Advice on developing bereavement services in the NHS, published in October 2005, provides advice to the national health service on the basic principles and elements considered necessary in developing bereavement services locally, including for stillbirth and neonatal death. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	The Government are committed to improving outcomes for both mothers and babies. We promote a number of interventions to help prevent stillbirths and neonatal deaths, including smoking cessation, eating healthily and tackling obesity, reducing teenage pregnancy and encouraging early booking with maternity services. We also fund the confidential inquiry into maternal and child health, which publishes an annual report into perinatal mortality, including stillbirth and neonatal death that monitors changes in the rates, causes and identifies risk factors.
	The latest information from the 2007-08 Child Health Mapping shows that there are 166 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in England. The following table gives the distribution of units by strategic health authority.
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  Number of NICU in 2007-08 
			 East Midlands 10 
			 East of England 17 
			 London 28 
			 North East 10 
			 North West 25 
			 South Central 13 
			 South East Coast 16 
			 South West 13 
			 West Midlands 15 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 19 
			 Total 166 
			  Source: A profile of children's health services, child and adolescent mental health services and maternity services in England 2007-08 (Durham University)

Rheumatology

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to develop a commissioning pathway for rheumatoid arthritis and supporting toolkit in order to provide robust and consistent standards of care throughout the patient journey.

Ann Keen: An inflammatory arthritis commissioning pathway is in development in conjunction with the Rheumatology Futures group.
	The first draft of the pathway is currently being produced. This draft will then be discussed at a consensus event in April 2009 where key stakeholders will be able to challenge the pathway and reach consensus on what the 'ideal' pathway would look like.
	The aim is that the pathway will be published shortly after the consensus event, and will be promoted and hosted on the Department's 18 weeks website.

Rheumatology

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to promote greater integration of knowledge about rheumatology treatment between primary care teams and specialist rheumatology professionals in order to  (a) enable and  (b) support patient self-management.

Ann Keen: We have no specific plans to promote greater integration between primary care teams and specialist rheumatology professionals.

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will have discussions with the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust on its reconfiguration of acute services.

Dawn Primarolo: Proposals for the reconfiguration of services are a matter for the national health service locally, which in this case means all four NHS organisations in Shropshire, working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders, as they understand the needs of local patients best.
	The hon. Member will be aware that a full public and stakeholder engagement and consultation process will take place in spring 2009. We encourage him and his constituents to fully engage in this.

Sight Impaired: Children

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children of each age under 17 years old have been prescribed glasses in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: National health service funded sight tests and NHS optical vouchers are available to all children under the age of 16 and those aged between 16 and 18 in full time education.
	The following table shows the number of optical vouchers redeemed for those aged under 16 and aged between 16 and 18 in full time education over the last 10 years. Statistics are not collected broken down by each age group. The Department does not collect statistics on the number of glasses prescribed following a private sight test.
	The total numbers of optical vouchers do not necessarily relate to the number of children as some children will have had more than one optical voucher in any 12 month period.
	
		
			   Children aged 0 to 15  Children aged 16 to 18 in full time education 
			 2007-08 1,069,393 271,466 
			 2006-07 1,011,619 257,918 
			 2005-06 996,535 244,534 
			 2004-05 997,768 236,065 
			 2003-04 1,022,964 233,530 
			 2002-03 992,212 252,713 
			 2001-02 1,129,672 261,429 
			 2000-01 1,094,277 254,896 
			 1999-2000 1,097,435 250,503 
			 1998-99 1,110,464 258,106

Smoking: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire have received assistance from the NHS to stop smoking in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Data are available on the number of people setting a quit date and successfully quitting through the NHS Stop Smoking Services for West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and East and North Hertfordshire PCT in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and for South East Hertfordshire PCT and North Hertfordshire and Stevenage PCT for 2004-05 through to 2006-07.
	Information for 2007-08 is available from the annual report Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2007 to March 2008. This information can be found in table 3.5 on page 29. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for 2006-07 is available for both the old and new strategic health authority (SHA) and PCT area breakdowns from the annual report Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2006 to March 2007. This information can be found in table 2.12 (old breakdown) and table 5.4 (new breakdown) on pages 21 and 66 respectively. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for 2005-06 is available for the old PCT and SHA breakdowns from the annual report Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2005 to March 2006. This information can be found in table 4.12 on page 40. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
	Information for 2004-05 is available for the old PCT and SHA breakdowns from the annual report Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, April 2004 to March 2005. This information can be found in table 19 on page 56. This publication has already been placed in the Library.

Smoking: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating smoking-related diseases in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not made such an estimate. The hon. Member may wish to raise his query directly with West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and East and North Hertfordshire PCT, which cover Hertfordshire.

Social Care: Research

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 253W, on social care: research, when each of the two academic studies are due to be completed; and if he will publish them upon completion.

Phil Hope: The research undertaken by Professor Mayhew of Cass Business School, concerning financial products that could potentially support private contributions in a new care and support system, was published in January 2009 and is available on following website:
	www.cass.city.ac.uk/arc/reportspages/actuarial2009.html
	The second piece of research, being undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit to make projections of likely future demand for long-term care, is still ongoing. The intention is that these findings will be published following completion in due course.

Social Services: Elderly

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each local authority spent on  (a) residential care and  (b) domiciliary care for older people in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: Data on local authority expenditure on domiciliary and residential care for older people are collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	Information showing the total amounts spent on domiciliary and residential care for older people aged 65 and over by local authority from 1998-99 to 2007-08 has been placed in the Library.

Stabilisation Aid Fund

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 40W, on the Stabilisation Aid Fund, whether the 15,350,000 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is counted for the purpose of the calculation of total expenditure on overseas development assistance; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply.
	The Stabilisation Aid Fund, amounting to 73 million in 2008-09, is required to spend 58 million on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) eligible activities. Money transferred to the FCO at Spring Supplementary Estimates (SSE) was based on estimated forecast expenditure across a portfolio of projects, a high proportion of which include ODA-eligible activity.

Teenage Pregnancy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the under-18 year old conception rates were in each  (a) ward and  (b) local authority area in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the under 18 year old conception rates were in each  (a) ward and  (b) local authority in England in the latest period for which figures are available. (265543)
	Available figures are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth and/or stillbirth (a maternity) or a legal termination.
	The numbers and rates of conceptions to under 18 year olds by local authority in England for 2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are shown in the table. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Figures for 2007 arc provisional.
	Figures on conceptions to women aged under 18 are not routinely published by wards due to concerns in maintaining the confidentiality of individuals.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with university hospitals in Morecambe Bay NHS Trust on the performance of their accident and emergency departments.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers have not had any direct discussions with the University hospitals of Morecambe Bay national health service trust on performance at accident and emergency (AE) departments within that organisation.
	NHS trusts in England are expected to meet the four-hour AE operational standard of 98 per cent. of patients being seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours of their arrival at AE. This standard is set out as an existing commitment for the NHS to meet in The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 2008/09, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. It is for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to work with NHS organisations to ensure they are providing an appropriate level of high quality care for patients, and work closely with challenged organisations.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer's Premium

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the effect on public expenditure of abolishing the carers' premium element of pension credit in each of the next six years.

Rosie Winterton: Pension credit tops up income to a minimum of 124.05 for single pensioners (189.35 for couples) aged 60 and over. People who are entitled to carer's allowance may benefit from an additional amount which increases their minimum guarantee by 27.75 (which is doubled where both members of a couple are entitled to carer's allowance).
	The table gives estimates of the saving associated with abolishing the additional amount for carers, all else remaining unchanged.
	
		
			  Estimated savings due to abolishing the carer's additional amount in pension credit, all else remaining unchanged 
			million 
			 2009-10 370 
			 2010-11 390 
			 2011-12 400 
			 2012-13 410 
			 2013-14 410 
			 2014-15 420 
			  Note: Estimates include the savings on housing benefit and council tax benefit from abolishing the additional amount for carers.  Sources: 1. Forecasts of pension credit case loads 2. Modelling using the Policy Simulation Model

Cold Weather Payments

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the merits of extending cold weather payments to other categories of income-related benefits.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 19 March 2009
	To enable us to target limited resources at those who are most in need, eligibility for cold weather payments is based on receipt of a range of income-related benefits. Eligible customers are those in receipt of pension credit or income-related employment and support allowance that includes a work-related activity or support component. Those in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance in the assessment phase are also eligible if they have a pensioner or disability premium included in their benefit or they have a child who is disabled or under the age of five in the family. There are no plans to extend Cold Weather Payments to other categories of income-related benefits.

Cold Weather Payments: East Kilbride

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the postcodes G74, G75 and ML10 were allocated to the Bishopton weather station for determining the payment of cold weather payments; which weather station was used for households in those postcode areas prior to that date; and how the mean average temperature for the East Kilbride and Strathaven area is calculated.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 10 March 2009
	Postcodes G74 and G75 were allocated to the Bishopton weather station for determining the payment of cold weather payments from November 1999. Prior to that date these postcodes were allocated to Abbotsinch (Glasgow Airport) weather station.
	Postcode ML10 was allocated to Salsburgh weather station from November 1997. Prior to that it was allocated to Abbotsinch (Glasgow Airport) weather station. Postcode ML10 has never been allocated to Bishopton weather station.
	The monthly/seasonal temperature averages for East Kilbride for the 30-year period 1971-2000, which is the latest standard 30-year period used for climate statistics, have been calculated using the observed temperatures from the climate station that was open in East Kilbride during that period.

Housing Benefit: Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit in each year since 1997 expressed in 2008-09 prices.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Total housing benefit expenditure in Great Britain in real terms, 2008-09 prices 
			million 
			 1997-98 14,659 
			 1998-99 14,211 
			 1999-2000 13,936 
			 2000-01 13,877 
			 2001-02 14,101 
			 2002-03 14,909 
			 2003-04 14,152 
			 2004-05 14,691 
			 2005-06 15,238 
			 2006-07 15,810 
			 2007-08 16,264 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are in real terms, 2008-09 prices. 2. Expenditure covers the total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding. This includes benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' housing revenue accounts, and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds. Includes expenditure on discretionary housing payments.  Source: Local authority subsidy claims

Local Housing Allowance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether rates of local housing allowance paid by local housing authorities are adjusted at the time of the outcome of a 12-month review of the rate of local housing allowance calculated by the Rent Service.

Kitty Ussher: Rent officers review and notify local housing allowance rates for a range of property sizes to local authorities each month. When a person living in the deregulated private rented sector claims housing benefit the local authority will use the appropriate local housing allowance rate, based on the area where the person lives and the size of their household, to determine the maximum amount to be included in the benefit calculation. That maximum amount will not be reviewed until the anniversary of the claim unless the person changes address or a change in the composition of the household affects the number of bedrooms it requires. At the point the maximum amount is reviewed, the local authority will apply the latest local housing allowance rate appropriate to the claim. This can lead to an adjustment, upwards or downwards, in the amount payable.

Local Housing Allowance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the use of local housing allowance vulnerability criteria.

Kitty Ussher: Guidance on the use of vulnerability criteria was issued to local authorities prior to the national rollout of local housing allowance on 7 April 2008 and is kept under regular review. We are satisfied that the criteria are being applied in line with the policy intention and currently have no plans to revise them.

Low Incomes: Credit

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which areas of the UK have received money from the Growth Fund to increase the provision of affordable credit.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 23 March 2009
	 As promised by my predecessor, on 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2862W, this information is placed in the House of Commons Library and updated on a quarterly basis.
	Through the Growth Fund the Department is increasing access to affordable credit for those at risk of financial exclusion. A further 38 million allocated from the Financial Inclusion Fund for the period 2008 to 2011 will be used to maintain and increase coverage in existing Growth Fund areas, and extend coverage to the highest priority, under-served areas identified by the Financial Inclusion Taskforce's recent mapping research.

Opinion Leader Research

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his  (a) Department and  (b) its agencies have paid Opinion Leader Research in each year since December 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The total payments made to Opinion Leader Research since 31 December 2007 are 33,622.75, as at end of February 2009.

Poverty: Children

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many responses were received to his Department's consultation on the draft Child Poverty Bill; and when he plans to publish the Bill.

Kitty Ussher: We have received around 240 responses to the e-consultation document.
	The Child Poverty Unit also held a key stakeholders consultation event on 3 March to discuss the questions raised in the consultation document. Save the Children organised a number of events to get the views of children and young people, attended by 129 children.
	In addition to consultation responses, Government Offices have held a series of consultation events with local authorities and other delivery partners to discuss the proposals set out in Ending Child Poverty: Making it Happen.
	We are still awaiting confirmation of the legislative timetable.

Social Fund

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for crisis loans from residents of each constituency were  (a) made and  (b) approved in each year since 1997; and what the average value of loan made was in each constituency in each of those years.

Kitty Ussher: The requested information is not available.
	Data on crisis loans are not held by constituency, but by Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area. Before that they were held by Jobcentre Plus district and prior to that by Social Fund district. Since May 2002, there have been several changes to the boundaries of administrative areas. As a result, data which can be compared across time are available for all Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget areas from September 2006 only.
	The available annual information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Crisis loans for 2007-08 for Great Britain 
			  Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area (ordered by region)  Applications received  Initial awards  Average initial award () 
			  East of England
			 Essex 52,660 36,270 78 
			 Norwich Benefit Delivery Centre 114,960 75,380 73 
			 
			  East Midlands
			 East Midlands North 43,130 31,400 77 
			 South East Midlands 61,240 36,450 88 
			 
			  London
			 Central and East London 54,410 40,060 90 
			 London South 59,690 46,440 112 
			 North and North East London 34,580 24,580 90 
			 West London 35,100 24,200 98 
			  North East
			 Northumbria 52,730 35,470 80 
			 South Tyne and Wear Valley 68,250 46,350 91 
			 Tees Valley 36,940 28,190 92 
			 
			  North West
			 Chorlton Benefit Delivery Centre 194,310 140,560 83 
			 Greater Liverpool and Cheshire 137,650 100,220 90 
			 
			  Scotland
			 Inverness Benefit Delivery Centre 137,400 95,780 69 
			 Springburn Benefit Delivery Centre 262,180 170,530 79 
			 
			  South East
			 Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey 87,740 64,310 72 
			 Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex 151,200 113,430 80 
			 
			  South West
			 South West Central 97,470 67,100 81 
			 
			  Wales
			 Llanelli Benefit Delivery Centre 48,740 34,330 69 
			 South East Wales 75,400 45,400 76 
			 
			  West Midlands
			 West Midlands Social Fund 140,110 76,000 84 
			 
			  Yorkshire and Humberside
			 Bradford 39,880 28,860 102 
			 Sheffield 119,430 69,770 71 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are for initial awards only. Awards made after review are not included. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Social Fund

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given to authorising the provision of good quality second-hand furniture from the Social Fund when it makes grants in kind; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The Welfare Reform Bill includes the power to arrange for the provision of goods or services rather than cash to people awarded Community Care Grants.
	In deciding on the arrangements to be made with suppliers we will consider a wide range of requirements that need to be met and we hope to be able to offer a range of products.
	All suppliers who feel that they can meet the criteria of the tender will be welcome to bid to provide goods and services and each submission will be considered on its own merits.
	In addition our forthcoming consultation paper on reform of the Social Fund will discuss whether we can provide greater signposting to recycled furniture providers where appropriate.

NORTHERN IRELAND

AccessNI

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of staff were employed by AccessNI in each month since April 2008.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Date  Number of AccessNI s taff 
			 1 April 2008 22 
			 1 May 2008 22 
			 1 June 2008 26 
			 1 July 2008 28 
			 1 August 2008 44 
			 1 September 2008 47 
			 1 October 2008 51 
			 1 November 2008 61 
			 1 December 2008 51 
			 1 January 2009 54 
			 1 February 2009 50 
			 1 March 2009 50

AccessNI

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) basic,  (b) standard and  (c) enhanced applications have been processed by AccessNI in each month since April 2008; and what percentage of each category was completed within the performance target time.

Paul Goggins: The following table sets out the number of disclosures processed on a monthly basis since April 2008.
	
		
			  Date  Basic  Standard  Enhanced 
			 April-May 2008 1,247 106 2,665 
			 June 1,406 162 3,397 
			 July 1,826 233 2,831 
			 August 1,461 737 7,596 
			 September 1,488 94 11,504 
			 October 918 376 17,481 
			 November 1,639 362 15,311 
			 December 991 262 10,027 
			 January 2009 1,265 351 9,399 
			 February 1,566 134 7,755 
			 March (to 13th) 896 132 4,815 
		
	
	AccessNI failed to meet its service standards for enhanced applications during the period April to December 2008. Since December 2008 AccessNI has continued to achieve its 90 per cent. service standards.

Departmental Air Travel

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many journeys  (a) he and his predecessors and  (b) his officials made by aeroplane in the course of their duties in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: As the right hon. Member will be aware, as with my predecessors, to fulfil my duties as Secretary of State in Northern Ireland and fulfil Cabinet obligations, it is necessary for me to travel to and from Northern Ireland regularly and frequently, often at short notice. Similarly, my officials, who work from both Belfast and London, are required to make journeys by aeroplane in the course of their duties.
	The figures shown in the following table are for the last three years only. Information for previous years could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	
		
			   Secretary of State  Officials 
			 2007-08 136 3,618 
			 2006-07 139 4,534 
			 2005-06 116 5,758 
		
	
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office IT security policies are aligned with the Government's Security Policy Framework. The Department uses risk management, accreditation, testing, activity monitoring and independent appraisal to ensure that IT security policies are adhered to.
	In the last 12 months, IT security policies have been breached on two occasions. Appropriate internal action was taken as a result.

Departmental Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office's expenditure on newspapers since 1999-2000, excluding agencies and Executive NDPBs, is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial Year  Expenditure () 
			 2007-08 53,275 
			 2006-07 68,510 
			 2005-06 62,145 
			 2004-05 70,706 
			 2003-04 78,033 
			 2002-03 78,278 
			 2001-02 68,505 
			 2000-01 61,138 
			 1999-2000 59,088 
		
	
	No record of newspaper expenditure is available prior to 1999-2000.
	Expenditure on magazines and periodicals is grouped with other general publication expenditure. It would not be possible to extract this spend from these figures except at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits which  (a) he,  (b) other Ministers in his Department and  (c) his Department's senior officials undertook in 2008.

Shaun Woodward: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 102WS and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information on the cost of overseas visits by senior officials is not held centrally and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All official travel is undertaken in accordance with departmental rules and the Civil Service Management Code.

Domestic Violence: Sentencing

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sentencing policy applies to people convicted of domestic violence offences in Northern Ireland; and how that policy is monitored.

Paul Goggins: While there is no specific sentencing policy in relation to domestic violence offences, the Government aim to ensure that legislation provides an appropriate range of offences, and makes available the right level and type of sentencing options, so that the Public Prosecution Service and the courts can respond effectively to violent crimes including those arising out of a domestic violence incident. In the case of domestic violence, these include penalties for breaches of civil orders.
	The legislation is kept under review: for example, the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 2008 was the result of a fundamental review of sentencing law and made available new public protection sentences for dangerous violent and sexual offenders.
	Once legislation is in place, sentencing in an individual case is of course a matter for the judge, taking into account the specific circumstances of the particular case. The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal delivers guideline judgments on sentencing in Northern Ireland which encourage consistency in sentencing throughout the courts of Northern Ireland and support sentencers in their decision-making.
	The courts have found that domestic violence cases should be regarded as particularly serious because of the vulnerability of victims to the infliction of violence. The Court of Appeal has also commented that guidance from the Sentencing Guidelines Council in England and Wales may be applied in this jurisdiction where it is appropriate to local conditions. The Council issued guidance entitled Overarching Principles: Domestic Violence on 18 December 2006 and this sets out the principles to be applied in passing sentence for these types of offence.

Northern Ireland Compensation Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid in compensation by the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the amounts paid out in each of the last five years.
	
		
			000 
			 2004-05 50,853 
			 2005-06 51,971 
			 2006-07 41,662 
			 2007-08 50,175 
			 2008-09 31,800 
			  Note: 2008-09 figures are up to end of February 2009.

Opinion Leader Research

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has paid Opinion Leader Research in each year since November 2007.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (excluding agencies and executive NDPBs) has made no payments to Opinion Leader Research since November 2007.

Prisons: Finance

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much is planned to be spent on capital works for the prison estate in Northern Ireland over the next five years.

Paul Goggins: During the remainder of the CSR07 period, to March 2011, the Northern Ireland Prison Service plan to spend some 40 million capital funding on the prison estate. This includes delivery of additional cellular accommodation.
	While capital funding beyond this period will not be agreed until the next spending review round, the service is proceeding with planned capital investments in line with ministerial commitments including a contribution to the joint College at Desertcreat, the redevelopment of Magilligan prison and the potential development flowing from the recommendations of the women offenders strategy published last month.

Prisons: Operating Costs

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the running costs of each prison in Northern Ireland were in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The running costs of each prison in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			   Maghaberry  Magilligan  Hydebank 
			 2007-08 54.668 26.870 22.310 
			 2006-07 55.024 27.045 22.455 
			 2005-06 52.732 25.919 21.520 
			 2004-05 46.506 22.859 18.979 
			 2003-04 45.285 22.258 18.481

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Conflict Prevention Pool

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on new priority areas for Conflict Prevention Pools and associated funding.

Michael Foster: Priorities for the Conflict Prevention Pool have been under review in order to respond to changing demands. Plans for 2009-10 have been discussed with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will issue a statement to the House on this matter later this week.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department has settled within 10 days of receipt in the last four months.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) payment performance for the last four months is:
	
		
			  Month  Percentage of correctly rendered invoices paid within 10 working days 
			 November 50 
			 December 57 
			 January 75 
			 February 70

Overseas Aid: Health Education

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the governments of other donor countries on new global initiatives for funding sexual, reproductive and maternal health and education projects in developing countries.

Ivan Lewis: Ministers and officials from the Department for International Development (DFID) have recently had extensive discussions with a range of other donor countries including Norway, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands on how, collectively, global efforts to improve maternal and child health can be accelerated. Sexual and reproductive health and rights has been an important element of these discussions. DFID Ministers and officials have also had discussions with the heads and officials from various international agencies (including the World Health Organisation, The UN Population Fund and the World Bank) on all of these issues.
	The UK has committed to spending 6 billion on strengthening health systems and services over the seven years to 2015. Strong health education programmes, including sexual and reproductive health and maternal health, are key elements of a well functioning health system.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken since February 2009 to ensure that Government and non-governmental aid from the UK reaches intended recipients in Gaza.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government have, before and after February 2009, maintained robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients in Gaza.
	There are well developed international mechanisms for the delivery of aid in Gaza, principally the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The Department for International Development (DFID) ensures that all non-governmental organisations (NGOs) it funds have experience of operating in Gaza, hold the necessary expertise and resources and also have robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Security Sector Reform

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress he has made towards establishing  (a) a definition of and  (b) objectives for security sector reform.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has made an important contribution to the international community's approach to security sector reform, including the establishment of an internationally accepted definition and objectives. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Guidelines on Security System Reform and Governance, agreed by OECD Ministers in 2004, define the security system as including: core security actors, security management and oversight bodies, justice and law enforcement and non-statutory security.
	The OECD DAC Guidelines and the 2007 Handbook on Security System Reform state that the overall objective of international support to security system reform processes is to increase the ability of partner countries to meet the range of security and justice challenges they face, in a manner consistent with democratic norms, and sound principles of governance and the rule of law. Security sector reform helps create a secure environment conducive to other political, economic and social developments, through the reduction of armed violence and crime. The focus for international actors should be to support partner countries in achieving overarching objectives:
	(i) Effective governance, oversight and accountability in the security system,
	(ii) Improved and sustainable delivery of security and justice services,
	(iii) Development of local leadership and ownership of the reform process.

Security Sector Reform

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of security sector reform on his Department's development policies.

Michael Foster: Security sector reform is a central pillar of the Department for International Development's (DFID) work on conflict prevention and a key component of our support for post conflict recovery and peace-building. Making people's lives safer, ending wars, and preventing new wars from starting or re-starting requires a joint effort. To achieve these objectives we work closely with other parts of the UK Government including the FCO and MOD. For example, in Sierra Leone, major DFID, FCO, and MOD investments have built the capacity of the armed forces, police and other bodies to deliver security on the ground. Further information on DFID's security sector reform strategy is available on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/supportingsecurity.pdf

Sub-Saharan Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 328W, on Africa: malaria, from which budgets the 90 million has been drawn; and how much of it has been spent to date.

Ivan Lewis: The costs of supplying 20 million bed nets for Africa, which we estimated at some 90 million, are being drawn from our country programme budget allocations for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. We will be able to give a figure for the amount spent so far once the accounts for the current financial year 2008-09 are finalised.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Londonderry of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 66W, on sub-Saharan Africa: malaria, when work began on the programme to supply 20 million bed nets.

Ivan Lewis: The pledge to provide 20 million bed nets for Africa was made by the Prime Minister on 9 April 2008. Follow-up action to deliver against the pledge commenced immediately.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Londonderry, of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 66W, on sub-Saharan Africa: malaria, what the average  (a) price and  (b) distribution cost of a bed net is (i) in total and (ii) by country.

Ivan Lewis: As set out in my answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 328W, we estimated a typical average price for a bed net of 2.50, with additional cost for administration, delivery and distribution of 2 per net. On this basis, it was estimated that it would cost 90 million to deliver the Prime Minister's pledge to provide 20 million additional bed nets for Africa during the period 2008-11. This estimate is close to the 5 total costs per bed net quoted during the recent Comic Relief appeal. However, costs vary depending on the delivery agent and the quantities being ordered: for example, UNICEF, which buys a very large number of bed nets globally, can command very favourable prices.
	It will not be possible to calculate the costs in every African country concerned until all of the various programmes through which bed nets are being supplied have been fully costed and approved. However, an example where figures are available is Nigeria, where we are funding the supply of 2.5 million bed nets through the Malaria Consortium. In this case, each bed net costs US$4.46 to buy and ship, with distribution and associated costs of US$1.40 per unit, totalling US$5.86 (about 4 at current exchange rates).

Sub-Saharan Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 5 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1130-32W, on overseas aid, how many bed nets have been procured by each of his Department's country programmes since June 2008.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development is in the process of compiling this information and will make it public in the next few weeks.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for East Londonderry of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 66W, on sub-Saharan Africa: malaria, what the level of demand for bed nets is  (a) in each African country and  (b) in each country to which bed nets are being supplied by his Department's country programmes.

Ivan Lewis: Data on the levels of demand for bed nets are not available by country. The World Malaria Report, issued by the World Health Organisation in September 2008which is available at:
	http://www.who.int/malaria/wmr2008/malaria2008.pdf
	includes detailed data on the levels of bed net ownership and use worldwide. Demand for bed nets is very dependent on the level of knowledge about malaria that prevails in a community, often something that can be encouraged through health education programmes. People in malarial areas need to be informed about the benefits of using bed nets before increased demand develops.
	There is a huge need for bed nets across Africa. In 2006, an average of 27 per cent. of African households owned an insecticide treated bed net, but only 17 per cent. of children slept under one. Where malaria is endemic, it is important for all children to sleep under a net. There is wide variation among countries however; around 49 per cent. of children sleep under a net in Gambia whereas in Kenya coverage has, with our help, increased from 7 per cent. in 2004 to 67 per cent. of children in 2006. It is intended that our various programmes that supply bed nets, and similar programmes by national governments and by other donors and NGOs, will considerably increase the availability and usage of bed nets with the aim of making a positive impact on the incidence of malaria in Africa over the next few years.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Opinion Leader Research

John Baron: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office has paid to Opinion Leader Research in each year since its establishment.

Harriet Harman: The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Since then, no payments have been made to Opinion Leader Research.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Corporal Punishment: Mosques

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Solicitor-General how many complaints were received by the Crown Prosecution Service alleging corporal punishment in mosques in England and Wales in 2008.

Vera Baird: CPS records allocate each defendant prosecuted by the service to one of 12 categories indicating the principal offence with which the defendant was charged, including a category identifying proceedings for Offences Against the Person. However, CPS records include no additional detail identifying either the circumstances or the motivation for the offence. To obtain this information, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

Domestic Violence: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Solicitor-General how many successful prosecutions for offences related to domestic violence in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency there have been in each year since 1997; and in how many such cases (i) alcohol was an aggravating factor and (ii) the victim required hospital treatment.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) only holds complete and reliable data on proceedings for domestic violence from 2005 onwards. The following table shows the number of defendants prosecuted by CPS Cumbria for offences of domestic violence, together with the outcome of proceedings. Outcomes are divided into convictions, including guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial, and unsuccessful outcomes, comprising all outcomes other than a conviction.
	No discrete records are held for Copeland constituency. Figures relating to this area are included within those for the Workington Police Division, for which comparable figures are included in the following table.
	CPS records include no information showing whether alcohol was an aggravating factor, or whether a victim required hospital treatment. To obtain this information, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).
	
		
			   Convictions  Unsuccessful  
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Total 
			  CPS Cumbria  
			 2005 296 61.3 187 38.7 483 
			 2006 329 66.3 167 33.7 496 
			 2007 390 77.5 113 22.5 503 
			 2008 526 77.5 153 22.5 679 
			   
			  Workington  
			 2005 79 56.8 60 43.2 139 
			 2006 80 63.5 46 36.5 126 
			 2007 85 81.7 19 18.3 104 
			 2008 165 68.8 75 31.3 240

Domestic Violence: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Solicitor-General how many  (a) arrests,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions for acts of domestic violence there were in (i) the Test Valley Borough, (ii) Southampton and (iii) the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of the offences were (A) males assaulting females, (B) females assaulting males, (C) males assaulting males and (D) females assaulting females.

Vera Baird: The following table shows, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records, the number of prosecutions for domestic violence completed in Southampton district and the county of Hampshire, during the period for which complete data are available. The table also shows case outcomes, divided into convictions and unsuccessful outcomes, and includes separate figures for male and for female defendants. Figures for the Southampton district include the Hampshire South West district. The Test Valley borough falls under several units within CPS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and no discrete figures are held for the borough alone. Although the CPS has in place arrangements to capture the gender of victims of offences of domestic violence, the information remains under development, and insufficient complete data exist at present to answer the remainder of the question.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	From these centrally reported data we are not able to identify specific offences from within the main offence groups.
	
		
			   Convictions  Unsuccessful  
			   Volume  Percentage  Volume  Percentage  Total outcomes 
			  Southampton  
			 2005 262 63 151 37 413 
			 2006 376 64 207 36 583 
			 2007 511 69 234 31 745 
			 2008 490 63 289 37 779 
			  Southampton male defendant  
			 2005 256 64 142 36 398 
			 2006 362 65 197 35 559 
			 2007 487 69 219 31 706 
			 2008 450 62 271 38 721 
			   
			  Southampton female defendant  
			 2005 8 47 9 53 17 
			 2006 14 58 10 42 24 
			 2007 24 62 15 38 39 
			 2008 40 69 18 31 58 
			   
			  Hampshire  
			 2005 835 61 540 39 1,375 
			 2006 1,158 68 543 32 1,701 
			 2007 1,558 69 713 31 2,271 
			 2008 1,647 69 750 31 2,397 
			   
			  Hampshire male defendant  
			 2005 797 61 511 39 1,308 
			 2006 1,110 68 516 32 1,626 
			 2007 1,462 69 663 31 2,125 
			 2008 1,528 68 703 32 2,231 
			   
			  Hampshire female defendant  
			 2005 38 57 29 43 67 
			 2006 48 64 27 36 75 
			 2007 95 66 50 34 145 
			 2008 119 72 47 28 166

Gary McKinnon

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Solicitor-General what her most recent estimate is of the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service of the extradition case against Gary McKinnon.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not routinely ascertain the total cost of proceedings in individual cases. The costs in counsel's fees to the CPS of the extradition proceedings involving Gary McKinnon are 41,851.47.

Opinion Leader Research

John Baron: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the Law Officers' Departments have paid Opinion Leader Research in each financial year since 2003-04.

Vera Baird: The Law Officers' Departments have made no payments to Opinion Leader Research since 2003-04.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many snatch land rovers were deployed in Helmand province in each month since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former members of each of the armed forces re-enlisted in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: The table provides the number of personnel re-enlisted to the UK Regular Forces(1) by Service in each of the last five financial years.
	
		
			   Naval Service( 2)  Army( 3)  Royal Air Force 
			 2003-04 n/a 540 90 
			 2004-05 n/a 400 40 
			 2005-06 n/a 410 20 
			 2006-07(4) n/a 640 n/a 
			 2007-08(4) n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not available (1) UK Regular Forces include Nursing Services and exclude Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas and mobilised reservists. (2 )Naval Service data cannot be provided because although some re-entrants are logged on the system it is thought this is only part of the re-entrant population. (3) Financial year 2006-07 is for an 11 month period from 1 April 2006 to 28 February 2007. (4 )Post JPA implementation (RAF from 1 April 2006, Naval Service from 1 October 2006 and Army from 1 April 2007) information on the number of re-enlisted personnel is unavailable.  Note: Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Armed Forces: Training

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trainees completed the Military Annual Training Test 7 in each of the last three years; what the pass rate was in each year; what work is carried out in order to determine the choice of question and effectiveness of training in each subject area; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of the test.

Bob Ainsworth: Military Annual Training Test 7 (MATT 7)Operational Lawwas created and implemented as mandatory for all officers and soldiers on 1 August 2008. Prior to that, Operational Law was taught within MATT 6.
	There are hundreds of courses available to Army trainees, which vary in length from a few days to many months and which have varying requirements for encompassing MATT 7.
	During phase one training the Law of Armed Conflict is taught and tested, although there is no requirement for trainees at this stage to complete MATT 7.
	Phase two training varies in length and content between each of the Arms and Services; as a result, the requirement for them to undertake operational law training also varies. For those phase two trainees whose course is less than six months in length, MATT 7 is not mandated. For those on a phase two course which will last more than six months, MATT 7 is mandated.
	At 2 March 2009 5,077 trainees were recorded as having completed MATT 7. Officers and soldiers of the Field Army are required to pass MATT 7 annually and it is routinely completed during pre-deployment training. Validation of the training is carried out by the Army's Directorate of Training ensuring standards are maintained across the Army.
	I have placed a copy of the latest version of the test in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Working Hours

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average working hours for personnel in each service have been in each year since 2005.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally. However Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) carry out a continuous survey of working patterns which is used to provide estimates of the average weekly hours worked over a financial year.
	Copies of the continuous survey of working patterns reports from 1997-98 to 2006-07 are available in the Library of the House.
	The 2006-07 continuous survey of working patterns report includes estimates of average weekly hours worked by Service. A five year time series of these estimates is provided on page 4 of this report.
	The 2007-08 report will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

AWE Burghfield: Planning Permission

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 337W, on AWE Burghfield: planning permission, on what dates he expects to submit planning applications for the proposed Enriched Uranium Facility and Hydrodynamics Facility at AWE Aldermaston to the local planning authority.

Bob Ainsworth: The latest forecast date for the submission of the planning application for the proposed replacement Uranium Handling Facility is the fourth quarter of 2009. The date for the proposed Hydrodynamics Facility is mid-2010.

Defence: Equipment

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial value is ascribed to  (a) a soldier's life and  (b) general troop safety in undertaking economic analysis to appraise (i) new defence equipment and (ii) upgrading of existing defence equipment; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, (Mr. Davies) gave on 13 January 2009,  Official  Report, columns 557-58W.

Departmental ICT

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental  (a) computers,  (b) laptops and  (c) memory sticks were lost in each year since 2007; and what the value of such equipment was.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides the number of computers, laptops and USB sticks that have been reported as lost in each year since 2007 until 18 March 2009. An estimated asset replacement cost has been used to derive the value for the losses as the actual recorded value could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	A number of the lost items have subsequently been recovered and these are reflected in the table.
	
		
			  MOD Asset Lost  2007  2008  2009  Total (number subsequently recovered)  Assumed value per asset  ()  Total value of lost assets  ()  Net value of assets (i.e. minus recovered items  () 
			 Computers 2 38 2 42(1) 1,200 50,400 49,200 
			 Laptops 22 201 5 228 (22) 1,800 410,400 370,800 
			 USBs 8 91 7 106(15) 15 1,590 1,365 
		
	
	The figure for 2008 includes the result from a Department wide audit of assets and may include items lost or unaccounted for during many previous years. These figures continue to be revised in light of any notified additional losses or, later, more accurate clarification of incident details.
	The Ministry of Defence is alert to the vulnerabilities of computer, laptop and USB assets and therefore information security policies and procedures are being continually reviewed and revised to drive down the number of information assets lost and to mitigate any subsequent impact.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down his Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates 2009-10 on the same basis as in the answer of 14 July 2008 to the hon. Member for Aldershot,  Official Report, column 167W, on departmental public expenditure.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Gerald Howarth:
	I undertook to write to the hon. Member in answer to his Parliamentary Question on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1366W about the Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates for 2009-10.
	A copy of the tables, which provide a detailed breakdown of the Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates 2008-09, which I have interpreted as being the appropriate year, and a copy of my letter have been placed in the Library of the House.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fast jet aircraft of each type there are in  (a) the Royal Air Force and  (b) the forward fleet; and how many are fit for purpose.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of fast jet aircraft in the RAF, forward fleet and those fit for purpose are provided in the table. The figures shown are a snapshot of the position on 28 February 2009.
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Total fleet  Forward fleet  Fit for purpose 
			 Typhoon 53 35 20 
			 Tornado GR4 138 81 61 
			 Tornado F3 69 35 26 
			 Harrier 74 49 44 
			 Hawk T1 132 80 68 
			 Hawk T2 6 0 0 
		
	
	The number of aircraft in the forward fleet comprises aircraft which are serviceable and those which are short-term unserviceable. Short-term unserviceable aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or any other unforeseen rectification work that can arise on a day-to-day basis. Serviceable aircraft available to the front line commands for operational and training purposes are termed fit for purpose. Aircraft which are undergoing major servicing or routine maintenance are within the depth fleet and are therefore not relevant to this question.
	Although delivery of six Hawk T2 has been accepted they have not yet been released to service.

Military Exercises

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military exercises were cancelled in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008; and what the reasons were for cancelling each exercise.

Bob Ainsworth: The military exercises cancelled each year since 2004-05 are summarised at table 2 on page 54 of the MOD annual report and accounts 2007-08 (volume 1). The reasons for cancellation are various and include: effectiveness of delivery; value for money constraints; international policy dimensions and circumstances; operational constraints; and focus on current operations. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.
	During calendar year 2007, a total of 722 training events were scheduled in the Defence Exercise programme (DXP), of which 61 (8.4 per cent.) were cancelled. Of these cancellations, 16 were due to operational commitments, 36 due to changing priorities and the remaining nine were for other reasons.
	During calendar year 2008, a total of 584 training events were scheduled in the DXP of which 58 (9.9 per cent.) were cancelled. Of these cancellations, four were due to operational commitments, 20 due to changing priorities and the remaining 34 were for other reasons.
	
		
			  Ser  Exercise name  Start  End  Reason for cancellation 
			 1 Cyprus Forum 06 1 February 2007 30 April 2007 Changed priorities 
			 2 Readiness Challenge 06/07 1 March 2007 1 April 2007 Operational commitments 
			 3 Global Gold 07/08 19 March 2007 30 March 2007 Operational commitments 
			 4 Bald Eagle 07/08 1 April 2007 14 April 2007 No unit available 
			 5 Britannia Way/Iberian Focus 07/08 1 April 2007 14 April 2007 Changed priorities 
			 6 Cossack Steppe (CAC 5-07/08) 1 April 2007 1 July 2007 Operational commitments 
			 7 Lion Star 1 07/08 1 April 2007 14 April 2007 Changed priorities 
			 8 Maxeval 07 11 April 2007 13 May 2007 Operational commitments 
			 9 Lion Sun 1-07/08 18 April 2007 16 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 10 Lion Sun 2-07/08 25 April 2007 23 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 11 Bass Rock 07/08 1 May 2007 15 May 2007 Host nation cancelled 
			 12 Fingals Cave 07/08 1 May 2007 1 October 2007 Host nation cancelled 
			 13 Joint Venture 07 1 May 2007 31 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 14 Romanian Express (CAC 7-07/08) 1 May 2007 1 October 2007 Cancelled due to double booking on training area 
			 15 Steadfast Nerve 07 2 May 2007 11 May 2007 Cancelled by NATO 
			 16 Lion Star 2-07/08 7 May 2007 21 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 17 Trident Fury 07 7 May 2007 18 May 2007 Operational commitments 
			 18 Virtual Flag 07-3 7 May 2007 18 May 2007 Host nation cancelled 
			 19 Maple Flag 40-1 13 May 2007 25 May 2007 Host nation cancelled 
			 20 Lion Star 3-07/08 19 May 2007 2 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 21 Dragons Nest 07 21 May 2007 27 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 22 Fr Airex-1 07 21 May 2007 30 May 2007 Changed priorities 
			 23 Lion Sun 3 - 07/08 30 May 2007 27 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 24 Fac(A) Trg 07 1 June 2007 14 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 25 Fwit07 2 June 2007 15 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 26 Lion Star 4- 07/08 2 June 2007 16 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 27 Coop Archer 07 11 June 2007 22 June 2007 Operational commitments 
			 28 Maple Flag 40-3 11 June 2007 22 June 2007 Operational commitments 
			 29 Volcanex 07 13 June 2007 22 June 2007 Changed priorities 
			 30 Lion Sun 4- 07/08 20 June 2007 18 July 2007 Changed priorities 
			 31 Lion Sun 5- 07/08 27 June 2007 25 July 2007 Changed priorities 
			 32 Harding Flame 07-1 29 June 2007 13 July 2007 Operational commitments 
			 33 Flying Rose 2-07/08 1 July 2007 31 July 2007 Operational commitments 
			 34 Ecadex 07 2 July 2007 10 July 2007 Changed priorities 
			 35 Patriot 07 9 July 2007 22 July 2007 Changed priorities 
			 36 Templar Forge 07-3 13 July 2007 30 July07 Operational commitments 
			 37 JTFEX 07 15 July 2007 25 July 2007 Changed priorities 
			 38 Lion Sun 6- 07/08 18 July 2007 15 August 2007 Changed priorities 
			 39 Lion Sun 7- 07/08 25 July 2007 8 August 2007 Changed priorities 
			 40 Lone Victor 07 3 August 2007 10 August 2007 Changed priorities 
			 41 TLP 07-4 6 August 2007 31 August 2007 Host nation cancelled 
			 42 Jagged Flame 07-1 13 August 2007 26 August 2007 Changed priorities 
			 43 Lion Sun 8- 07/08 15 August 2007 12 September 2007 Changed priorities 
			 44 Batus Run 07-1 20 August 2007 8 September 2007 Changed priorities 
			 45 Lion Sun 9- 07/08 22 August 2007 19 September 2007 Changed priorities 
			 46 1 ACC WTI 07 1 September 2007 23 September 2007 Operational commitments 
			 47 Coop Mako 07 1 September 2007 14 September 2007 Changed priorities 
			 48 Bold Avenger 07 3 September 2007 14 September 2007 Changed priorities 
			 49 Opeval 07 5 September 2007 6 October 2007 Operational commitments 
			 50 JRTC 07-1 9 September 2007 17 September 2007 Operational commitments 
			 51 CME/CMX 07 11 September 2007 21 September 2007 Cancelled by EU and NATO 
			 52 Lion Sun 10-07/08 12 September 2007 10 October 2007 Changed priorities 
			 53 Harding Flame 07-2 17 September 2007 28 September 2007 Operational commitments 
			 54 Lion Sun 11-07/08 19 September 2007 17 October 2007 Changed priorities 
			 55 Uhlan Barbara 07 1 October 2007 7 October 2007 Changed priorities 
			 56 Cobb Ring 07/08 14 October 2007 29 October 2007 Operational commitments 
			 57 Lone Frame 07 15 October 2007 28 October 2007 Changed priorities 
			 58 Grand Prix 2- 07/08 26 October 2007 16 December 2007 Changed priorities 
			 59 Able Ally 07/08 1 November 2007 30 November 2007 Changed priorities 
			 60 Dapex 07 19 November 2007 23 November 207 Changed priorities 
			 61 Global Kukri 07/08 19 November 2007 30 November 2007 Operational commitments 
			 62 Lion Sun 12-07/08 1 January 2008 29 February 2008 Changed priorities 
			 63 Lion Sun 13-07/08 1 January 2008 29 February 2008 Changed priorities 
			 64 Snow Falcon 08 10 January 2008 25 January 2008 Changed priorities 
			 65 Red Flag 08-2.1 13 January 2008 26 January 2008 Alternative exercise opportunity pursued 
			 66 Oak Apple 24 January 2008 5 April 2008 Kenyan domestic instability 
			 67 Grand Prix 3-07/08 28 January 2008 20 March 2008 Kenyan domestic instability 
			 68 Lion Sun 14- 07/08 1 February 2008 31 March 2008 Changed priorities 
			 69 Red Flag 08-2.2 2 February 2008 15 February 2008 Alternative exercise opportunity pursued 
			 70 Noble Midas 4 February 2008 16 February 2008 Airframe availability 
			 71 Green Flag West 08-4 20 February 2008 7 March 2008 Alternative exercise opportunity pursued 
			 72 Lone Fin 08 5 March 2008 16 March 2008 Changed priorities 
			 73 Grand Prix 1-08/09 10 March 2008 26 April 2008 Kenyan domestic instability 
			 74 Spontex 08-1 12 March 2008 23 March 2008 No aircraft availability 
			 75 Makran Osprey 31 March 2008 11 April 2008 Political instability in Pakistan forced withdrawal of the AIR component and made the Ex untenable. 
			 76 Bald Eagle 08/09 1 April 2008 1 May 2008 No unit available 
			 77 Lion Sun 1-08/09 18 April 2008 16 May 2008 Changed priorities 
			 78 Sphinx 21 April 2008 30 April 2008 No AAR available 
			 79 Lion Sun 2- 08/09 25 April 2008 23 May 2008 Changed priorities 
			 80 Bass Rock 08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Exchange. Cancelled at Canadian request 
			 81 Fingals Cave 08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Exchange. Cancelled at Canadian request 
			 82 Flying Rose 2-08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Exchange. Cancelled at US request. 
			 83 Mulberry Tree/Prickly Pear 08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Exchange with US. Cancelled by mutual agreement due to lack of available forces on either side. 
			 84 Stoney Run 08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Exchange exerciseUK leg went ahead but US leg cancelled due to unavailability of AT. 
			 85 Winged Star 08/09 1 May 2008 1 October 2008 Airborne focused exchange. Neither UK nor US airborne forces available due to operations. 
			 86 Lion Sun 3- 08/09 30 May 2008 27 June 2008 Changed priorities 
			 87 150 Tpt Regt (V) OBUA Trg 31 May 2008 1 June 2008 TRG area unavailable 
			 88 Frukus 1 June 2008 28 June 2008 Russia/Georgia dispute resulted in cancellation 
			 89 Blue Flag 2 June 2008 13 June 2008 Cancelled by host nation (USA) 
			 90 Elite 2 June 2008 18 June 2008 Changed priorities 
			 91 Loyal Arrow 16 June 2008 27 June 2008 Ex cancelled by NATO 
			 92 Coop Mako 08 19 June 2008 30 June 2008 Cancelled by sponsor 
			 93 Lion Sun 4- 08/09 20 June 2008 18 July 2008 Changed priorities 
			 94 Batus Run 23 June 2008 29 June 2008 Change to dates prevented Air participation 
			 95 Lion Sun 5- 08/09 27 June 2008 25 July 2008 Changed priorities 
			 96 Uhlan Eagle 08/09 1 July 2008 30 July 2008 Re-programming removed need For exercise 
			 97 Training Weekend 150 Tpt Regt(V) 14 July 2008 15 June 2008 Training area unavailable 
			 98 First Jog 15 July 2008 17 July 2008 Exercise Objectives reached in an earlier exercise. 
			 99 Lion Sun 6- 08/09 18 July 2008 15 August 2008 Changed priorities 
			 100 Lion Sun 7- 08/09 25 July 2008 22 August 2008 Changed priorities 
			 101 Lion Sun 8- 08/09 15 August 2008 12 September 2008 Changed priorities 
			 102 Lion Sun 9- 08/09 22 August 2008 19 September 2008 Changed priorities 
			 103 Outreach 4-Georgian Express 1 September 2008 1 October 2008 Russian-Georgian hostilities 
			 104 Slovak Hawk 1 September 2008 8 September 2008 Changed priorities 
			 105 Tricolour 3- 08/09 1 September 2008 1 October 2008 No unit available. 
			 106 Danex 08 3 September 2008 16 September 2008 Cancelled by host nation 
			 107 Lion Sun 10- 08/09 12 September 2008 10 October 2008 Changed priorities 
			 108 Lion Sun 11-08/09 19 September 2008 17 October 2008 Changed priorities 
			 109 Log Provider 08 22 September 2008 3 October 2008 Operational commitments 
			 110 Sapper Sands 29 September 2008 10 October 2008 Unit unavailable 
			 111 Lone Bustard 10 October 2008 19 October 2008 Changed priorities 
			 112 TrgEx-75EngrRegt(V) 11 October 2008 12 October 2008 Operational commitments 
			 113 Lone Frame 15 October 2008 27 October 2008 Changed priorities 
			 114 Noble Ardent 16 October 2008 30 October 2008 Cancelled by national owner 
			 115 Trg Ex - 75 Engr Regt(V) 25 October 2008 26 October 2008 Operational commitments 
			 116 Trg Ex - 75 Engr Regt (V) 30 October 2008 31 October 2008 Operational commitments 
			 117 Uhlan Barbara 08/09 1 November 2008 25 November 2008 Re-programming removed need for exercise 
			 118 Polish Dancer 3 November 2008 14 November 2008 Cancelled by host nationbad weather 
			 119 Flotex Silver 24 November 2008 5 December 2008 Host nation reduced scale of Ex to National only, cancelling INVITEX component.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom has ever provided tritium for the United States nuclear weapons programme.

John Hutton: The Government set in hand in their 1998 Strategic Defence Review a process of declassification and historical accounting of defence fissile material production since the start of the United Kingdom's defence nuclear programme in the 1940s. In 2000 they produced a report dealing with plutonium. In that report an explanation was given of the bartering arrangements provided for in the UK/US Mutual Defence Agreement under which the UK received 6.7 kg of tritium from the US between 1960 and 1979 in exchange for plutonium.
	I am withholding further information on the movement of tritium or other fissile material between the United Kingdom and the United States in the interests of national security.

Piracy

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent military actions have been undertaken by the Royal Navy against piracy in  (a) the Red Sea,  (b) the Gulf of Aden and  (c) the Indian Ocean; and what the result has been of such actions.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy has been involved in two incidents involving military action against piracy since December 2008. Both incidents were in the Gulf of Aden.
	On 29 January 2009 HMS Portland dispatched her helicopter to offer assistance when the Indian Naval vessel INS Beas responded to a pirate boarding of MV Longchamp. Despite action taken by the helicopter from INS Beas the pirates were successful in their attempt to hijack the MV Longchamp.
	On 22 February 2009 HMS Northumberland responded to a distress call from MV Saldanha. Due to the distances involved HMS Northumberland was not able to deter the pirate attack. However, she did later find an abandoned skiff thought to have been used during the attack. The skiff was subsequently destroyed.
	I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer that the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) gave on 20 November 2008,  Official Report, column 670W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) which provides details of the number of incidents in late 2008.

Reserve Forces

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) inflow,  (b) outflow and  (c) voluntary outflow rate of each volunteer reserve force was in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: Data on outflow reasons for any volunteer reserve force are not held. Consequently, data on voluntary outflow are not available.
	Royal Naval Reserve figures prior to 2003 are not available. The following table provides the total intake and outflow for the Royal Naval Reserve during the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008.
	
		
			  Calendar year  Inflow  Outflow 
			 2003 340 540 
			 2004 220 570 
			 2005 240 420 
			 2006 240 380 
			 2007 220 300 
			 2008 180 270 
		
	
	Royal Marine Reserve figures prior to April 2007 and post 1 March 2008 are not available. The following table provides the total intake and outflow for the Royal Marine Reserve during the period 1 April 2007 to 29 February 2008.
	
		
			   Inflow  Outflow 
			 April 2007 to February 2008 300 240 
		
	
	Territorial Army inflow and outflow figures prior to October 2003 are not available. Following the implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration system in 2007, inflow and outflow figures for the Territorial Army are not available. The following table provides the total intake and outflow for Territorial Army personnel during the period 1 October 2003 to 28 February 2007.
	
		
			  Inflow and outflow of the Territorial Army( 1)  by calendar year 
			  Calendar year  Inflow( 2)  Outflow( 3) 
			 2003 (1 October to 31 December) 3,360 2,370 
			 2004 7,690 9,410 
			 2005 8,650 8,240 
			 2006 8,560 9,920 
			 2007 (1 January to 28 February)(4) 1,020 1,700 
			 (1) The data exclude Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS) and Mobilised TA but include the Officer Training Corps (OTC). (2) Inflow figures include all inflow e.g. intake from civil life and intake from other parts of the armed forces, but do not include the inflow of personnel returning from mobilisation. (3) Outflow figures exclude those personnel who became mobilised. (4) Due to ongoing data validation following the introduction of the new joint personnel (JPA) System, there is no TA information available since 1 March 2007. 
		
	
	Royal Auxiliary Air Force figures prior to the financial year 2002-03 are not available. The following table shows total attestations and discharges in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for the period 1 April 2002 to 28 February 2009.
	
		
			  Financial year  Inflow  Outflow 
			 2002-03 280 330 
			 2003-04 260 280 
			 2004-05 260 340 
			 2005-06 240 270 
			 2006-07 320 280 
			 2007-08 340 290 
			 1 April 2008 to 28 February 2009 430 290 
			  Notes: 1. The data include Part Time Volunteer Reserves (PTVR) only. 2. Inflow figures include all inflow including intake from civil life and transfers from other units within the armed forces. 3. Outflow figures include all outflow including discharges and transfers out.

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the percentage of the defence budget which will be spent on running costs of the current Trident nuclear deterrent and the procurement of a successor system in the years immediately following the main gate decision to procure new submarines.

John Hutton: As the December 2006 White Paper, The Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994), made clear, our current estimate is that the total procurement costs of the new submarines and associated equipment and infrastructure will be in the region of 15 to 20 billion (at 2006-07 prices) for a four-boat fleet, mainly spread over the period 2012-27. The Main Gate decision is expected to be taken in 2014.
	Spending plans for the years immediately following this decision will need to be set as part of the Government's Spending Review process and as part of the Main Gate approval. It is not therefore possible to be sure what the size of the defence budget will be over the timescales involved, but procurement costs are likely on average to be the equivalent of around three per cent. annually of the current defence budget over the main period of expenditure. This is around the same as for the Trident programme.
	Once the new fleet of submarines comes into service, annual in-service capital and running costs of the deterrent, which include the costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, are expected to be similar to today (around five to six per cent. of the annual defence budget).

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities: Insolvency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many charities were deemed to be insolvent in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many charities have made representations to the Charities Commission on issues related to insolvency in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated March 2009:
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Questions (265253), (265254) regarding charity insolvencies.
	With regard to how many charities were deemed to be insolvent in each of the last five years, the Charity Commission does not currently record this information centrally. However, I attach below tables which set out the number of charities who were removed from the register, in each year, since 2005 and the reasons recorded for their removal.
	The table below to those charities which are required to refers register with the Commission by law. Smaller charities are not required to register with us; the threshold for registration was an annual income of 1,000 for the periods shown by the tables.
	Of the charities that have been removed from the Register, those that have been removed due to insolvency are likely to have fallen under the categories Ceased to exist and Does not operate. However the large majority of the charities recorded under these categories will not have been removed due to insolvency but will have wound up for other reasons.
	
		
			  Reason for removal  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Ceased to exist or operate due to merger, incorporation or transfer of funds 1,592 1,725 1,436 4,753 
			 Ceased to exist or operate for other reasons 3,344 2,691 3,270 9,305 
			 Voluntary removal of charities below the minimum registration threshold 28 8 245 281 
			 Duplicate registrations and other corrections 174 152 122 448 
			 Total 5,138 4,576 5,073 14,787 
		
	
	With regard to how many charities have made representations to the Charity Commission on issues related to insolvency in each of the last three years, the Charity Commission does not currently collect this information centrally.
	I hope this is helpful. If you would be interested in meeting representatives from the Charity Commission to discuss these issues further please do get in touch.

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) capital expenditure and  (b) maintenance and running costs for standby diesel generators for backup electricity on the departmental estate in each year since March 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Departments: Temporary Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many temporary agency workers there were in each Government department on  (a) 1 November 2008 and  (b) the latest date for which information is available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many temporary agency workers there were in each Government department on (a) 1 November 2008 and (b) the latest date for which information is available. (266164)
	Estimates of employment for the home civil service departments are available from the Civil Service element of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES). Data for the survey is collected on a quarterly basis; the latest date for which information is available is December 2008. Data for the numbers of temporary 'agency' workers arc not collected; however estimates of the number of temporary/casual employees are available and have been included at Annex A.
	
		
			  Annex A: Civil Service employment by Department( 1) temporary/casual employees 
			  Headcount 
			   2008 Q3( 2)  2008 Q4( 3) 
			 Attorney-General's departments 440 470 
			 Cabinet Office 20 20 
			 Other Cabinet Office agencies 120 80 
			 HM Treasury 120 90 
			 Chancellor's other department(4,)( )(5) 110 150 
			 United Kingdom Statistics Authority(4,)( )(5,)( )(6) 70 80 
			 Charity Commission 10 10 
			 Communities and Local Government 50 70 
			 Culture, Media and Sport 10 * 
			 Defence 840 740 
			 Children, Schools and Families 20 20 
			 Innovation, Universities and Skills 10 10 
			 Ofsted 90 80 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 260 280 
			 Export Credits Guarantee Department * 10 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 30 30 
			 Health 60 70 
			 Food Standards Agency 30 30 
			 Meat Hygiene Service 10 20 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 290 130 
			 Home Office(4) 380 230 
			 International Development 10 10 
			 Justice 2,330 2,220 
			 Northern Ireland Office 0 0 
			 Security and Intelligence Services 0 0 
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 280 290 
			 Transport 610 360 
			 Work and Pensions 2,940 2,980 
			 Government Equalities Office(7) 0 10 
			
			 Central Government Departments total 9,120 8,470 
			
			 Scottish Government 350 300 
			 Welsh Assembly 390 350 
			
			 Total 9,870 9,120 
			 (1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, and numbers less than five are represented by '*'. Data not available are represented by ''. (2) 2008 G3 survey reference date 30 September 2008. (3) 2008 Q4 survey reference date 31 December 2008. (4) On 1 April 2008 employees of the General Register Office were transferred from the UK Statistics Authority to the Identity and Passport Service (Home Office). (5) The UK Statistics Authority was established on 1 April 2008, when the 'Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007' came into effect. As such, Office for National Statistics employees are now included within the UK Statistics Authority return and not as 'Chancellor's other departments'. (6 )As of 1 April 2008, Field Interviewers are now classified as civil servants and are included as UK Statistics Authority employees. (7) The Government Equalities Office (GEO) was created by Parliament in October 2007 and obtained its own payroll for collection in December 2008.

Personal Income: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average weekly income was in each ward in each principal seaside town in  (a) England and  (b) Wales in the last month for which figures are available, listed in descending order in each case.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average income was in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available, listed in descending order with Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated. (265495)
	Estimates of average income are not available at ward level. However, it is possible to provide estimates of gross weekly earnings at Local Authority level. These are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	I attach a table showing the median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees for the Local Authority associated with each principal seaside town in England and Wales in 2008.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a sample of employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Median weekly payGross ()For full-time employee jobs( 1)  in local authorities containing principal seaside towns in England and Wales for 2008 
			  Principal seaside towns  Local authority  Median full-time 
			 Greater Bournemouth Bournemouth UA *479 
			 Greater Brighton Brighton and Hove UA *480 
			 Greater Blackpool Blackpool UA *358 
			 Greater Worthing Worthing *439 
			 Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea UA *439 
			 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight UA *420 
			 Torbay Torbay UA *376 
			 Hastings/Bexhill Hastings *386 
			 Thanet Thanet **384 
			 Southport Sefton *426 
			 Eastbourne Eastbourne *475 
			 Weston-super-Mare North Somerset UA *480 
			 Whitstable/Herne Bay Canterbury *431 
			 Llandudno/Colwyn Bay/Conway Conwy/Conwy *417 
			 Folkstone/Hythe Shepway **466 
			 Lowestoft Waveney *388 
			 Clacton Tendring *370 
			 Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth *448 
			 Scarborough Scarborough *411 
			 Weymouth Weymouth and Portland *340 
			 Morecambe and Heysham Lancaster *440 
			 Rhyl/Prestatyn Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych *422 
			 Bognor Regis Arun *404 
			 Whitley Bay North Tyneside *411 
			 Exmouth Teignbridge *405 
			 Bridlington East Riding of Yorkshire UA *450 
			 Dawlish/Teignmouth Teignbridge *405 
			 Deal Dover *450 
			 Barry The Vale of Glamorgan/Bro Morgannwg *484 
			 Newquay Restormel *378 
			 Penzance Penwith **313 
			 Falmouth Carrick *436 
			 Burnham-on-Sea Sedgemoor *398 
			 Skegness East Lindsey **377 
			 Porthcawl Bridgend/Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr *430 
			 Sidmouth East Devon *380 
			 Whitby Scarborough *411 
			 Minehead West Somerset X 
			 St. Ives Penwith **313 
			 Ilfracombe North Devon *352 
			 Swanage Purbeck **460 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.  Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220.  Key: CV = 5 per cent. * CV  5 per cent. and  = 10 per cent. ** CV  10 per cent. and = 20 per cent. x CV  20 per cent.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Population

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the net international migration was affecting  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1991.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to respond to your question concerning what the net international migration was for  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1991. (265687)
	Official estimates of net international migration for the constituent countries of the UK in each year since 1991 are given in Table 1.
	
		
			  Net migration to the countries of the UK, 1991-92 to 2006-07 
			  Thousand 
			  Mid-year to mid-year  England  Wales  Scotland( 1)  Northern Ireland( 2) 
			 1991-92 +23 -2 -16  
			 1992-93 -6 -1 -3 +1 
			 1993-94 +44  -1 +1 
			 1994-95 +78 +1 -3  
			 1995-96 +72 +4 -4 +2 
			 1996-97 +58 +2 -6 +1 
			 1997-98 +85 +3 -9 +1 
			 1998-99 +156 +2 +1 -5 
			 1999-2000 +148 +4 +12 -1 
			 2000-01 +179 -1 +8 -2 
			 2001-02 +148 +3  -1 
			 2002-03 +152 -1 -4 -1 
			 2003-04 +172 +2 +1  
			 2004-05 +251  +8 +5 
			 2005-06 +162 +3 +6 +9 
			 2006-07 +180 +5 +17 +8 
			 (1) The estimates for Scotland have been revised. However, international migration estimates for Scotland for the purposes of estimating population change will not be revised and so there may be some differences.  (2) The Northern Ireland figures are based on new registrations with a family doctor from outside the UK.   Source:  International Passenger Survey, Home Office, Irish Central Statistics Office, NISRA Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are published as table 2.11 on: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15053

Redundancy: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many people have been made redundant in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in the last six months;
	(2)  how many people identified as unemployed in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire had been out of work for 12 months or more in each of the last five months;
	(3)  how many people under the age of 21 years were identified as unemployed in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many people identifying themselves as disabled have been employed in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997. [Official Report, 12 May 2009, Vol. 492, c. 10MC.]

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people have been made redundant in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire in the last six months; how many people under the age of 21 years were identified as unemployed in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years; how many people identifying themselves as disabled have been employed in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire in each year since 1997; how many people identified as unemployed in (a) Hemel Hempstead and (b) Hertfordshire had been out of work for 12 months or more in each of the last five months. (265801, 265806, 265818  265804)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. Estimates of the number of people in employment identifying themselves as disabled have been compiled from this source. However, this source does not support analysis of redundancies at these geographic levels and no alternate source is available. It is also not possible to analyse unemployment by small age groups, or for specific durations, for small geographic areas from this source. As an alternative to that, analyses of the count of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for the areas requested has been provided.
	Table 1 shows the number of persons claiming JSA who are under the age of 19 and resident in the Hemel Hempstead constituency or Hertfordshire. Statistics of the count of claimants of persons claiming JSA are not available for persons under the age of 21.
	Table 2 shows the number of persons of all ages claiming JSA for more than 12 months, who are resident in Hemel Hempstead or Hertfordshire.
	Table 3 show the number of persons resident in Hertfordshire, who identified themselves as having a limiting health problem lasting more than 12 months, and were employed. Figures have been provided for periods up to June 2008, the latest period for which figures are available. Estimates for Hemel Hempstead have not been supplied as they are statistically unreliable.
	As even the estimates quoted are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in Table3.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and the claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of persons aged under 19 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in Hemel Hempstead Constituency and Hertfordshire 
			  As at February each year  Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire 
			 2005 268 1,898 
			 2006 322 2,212 
			 2007 280 2,196 
			 2008 242 1,772 
			 2009 378 3,188 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 12 months resident in Hemel Hempstead Constituency and Hertfordshire 
			   Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire 
			 October 2008 96 712 
			 November 2008 97 751 
			 December 2008 103 775 
			 January 2009 109 809 
			 February 2009 112 837 
			  Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3. Number of disabled( 1)  persons in employment resident in Hertfordshire 
			  12 months ending  Hertfordshire ( T housand) 
			 February 1999 48 
			 February 2000 51 
			 February 2001 56 
			 February 2002 58 
			 February 2003 66 
			 February 2004 63 
			 March 2005 58 
			 March 2006 63 
			 March 2007 52 
			 March 2008 67 
			 June 2008 **69 
			 (1) Persons age 16+ who had a limiting health problem lasting more than 12 months.  Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CVfor example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220  Key Statistical Robustness * Estimates are considered precise ** Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** Estimates are considered acceptable **** Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes  Source: Annual Population Survey/Annual Labour Force Survey

Teenage Pregnancy: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many girls under 16 years of age resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire became pregnant in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 March 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many girls under 16 years of age became pregnant in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each of the last 10 years. (265800)
	Available figures are estimates of the number of conceptions that resulted in a live birth and/or stillbirth (a maternity) or a legal termination.
	Numbers of conceptions to girls under 16 years of age in Hertfordshire for the years 1998-2007 (the most recent year for which figures are available), are shown in the attached table. Figures for 2007 are provisional.
	Information on conceptions is not routinely published for parliamentary constituencies. Hence figures cannot be provided for Hemel Hempstead constituency because of the risk of disclosing individual's information, due to small differences between the parliamentary constituency and local authority boundaries. Figures are instead provided for Dacorum county district for 1998-2007, in the attached table.
	
		
			  Number of conceptions to girls aged under 16 by selected area of usual residence 1998 to 2007 
			   Hertfordshire  Dacorum CD 
			 1998 100 20 
			 1999 122 14 
			 2000 105 11 
			 2001 103 11 
			 2002 104 10 
			 2003 99 14 
			 2004 115 17 
			 2005 101 20 
			 2006 94 15 
			 2007 114 20 
			  Note: Figures for 2007 are provisional

V: Gloucestershire

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what volunteering opportunities the charity v provides for young people in Gloucestershire.

Kevin Brennan: v has put in place a network of  vinvolved teams across England to create new volunteering opportunities and support young people to find volunteering placements that match their passions and interests. In Gloucestershire the  vinvolved team is hosted by Young Gloucestershire and expects to create around 5,700 new opportunities. In South Gloucestershire the  vinvolved team is hosted by Young Bristol and expects to create around 2,700 new opportunities. Each  vinvolved team has also recruited a Youth Action Team, a group of young people who promote volunteering to their peers.
	Through v's youth fund  vcashpoint, in partnership with HSBC, young people in Gloucestershire and elsewhere can apply directly for funds of up to 2,500 to set up their own community project. To date four projects have been funded in Gloucestershire.
	In addition there are a number of match fund projects with activity in the south-west, which covers Gloucestershire:
	ITV Fixers
	Community Rugby
	Rugby League
	Lawn Tennis Association
	England and Wales Cricket Board
	BTCVGreenprints.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of alcohol-related crimes committed between the hours of 3 am and 6 am in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England in each year since 2000.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 2 February 2009
	The most recently published report, 'The impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder: an evaluation' (2008) by Hough et al, found that violent offences between 3 am and 6 am had increased by 236 incidents in the first year following the introduction of the Act. These offences represent 4 per cent. of all night time offences. Overall the review found that crimes involving violence during the whole evening and night time had reduced.
	To understand what is happening in the 3 am to 6 am period, we will undertake further comprehensive research into post-midnight drinking patterns and their impact on crime and disorder.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of alcohol-related crimes committed between the hours of 3 am and 6 am in  (a) Essex and  (b) England in each year since 2000.

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of alcohol-related crimes committed between the hours of 3am and 6am in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in each year since 2000.

Alan Campbell: The most recently published report, The Impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on Levels of Crime and Disorder: An Evaluation (2008) by Hough et al, found that violent offences between 3 am and 6 am had increased by 236 incidents in the first year following the introduction of the Act. These offences represent 4 per cent. of all night time offences. Overall the review found that crimes involving violence during the whole evening and night-time had reduced.
	To understand what is happening in the 3 am to 6 am period, we will undertake further comprehensive research into post-midnight drinking patterns and their impact on crime and disorder.

Antisocial Behaviour: Public Transport

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the joint review with the Department for Transport announced on 8 May 2008 on combating anti-social behaviour on public transport will be published.

Alan Campbell: The National Centre for Social Research Omnibus Survey asked members of the public about their perceptions of safety from crime while using public transport, and personal experiences of antisocial behaviour or crime on public transport. The survey was published on 18 September 2008. In addition we undertook a review of the tools and powers. We are planning to hold events for transport stakeholders to make more effective use of antisocial behaviour tools and powers. As part of the recently launched Violence Against Women and Girls consultation, we are surveying women's and girls, personal safety at night, including local streets and public transport.

Asylum

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people receiving section 4 support have been waiting to have their asylum case processed for longer than  (a) six months,  (b) one year,  (c) three years,  (d) five years and  (e) 10 years.

Phil Woolas: None. People receiving section 4 support have had their asylum claim considered and their appeal rights are exhausted.

Coroners: Greater London

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2008,  Official Report, column 405, on the de Menezes inquest, what discussions she has had with the London boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham and Greenwich on sharing the cost of the inquest; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 4 March 2009
	The Government have agreed that in view of the exceptional nature of the case and the burdens placed on the local authorities, they will make a contribution to meet the excess costs of the inquest. Following agreement with the boroughs, we will on an exceptional basis be paying just under 2.5 million in full and final settlement.

Crime: Financial Services

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates the National Fraud Reporting Centre has made of the present level of financial crime.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 March 2009
	The National Fraud Reporting Centre is under development and is not yet operational. Public facing trials will take place later this year with the Reporting Centre being fully rolled out in 2010.

Departmental Contracts

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) institutions supported by the higher education funding councils and  (b) other organisations and bodies have been awarded contracts by Home Office Research, Development and Statistics in each financial year since 2003.

Jacqui Smith: The following lists show the institutions supported by the higher education funding councils and, separately, other organisations and bodies including named individuals that were awarded contracts let by the Research, Development and Statistics group within the Home Office since 2003.
	 List A: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2003-04
	Cardiff University
	De Montfort University
	Edinburgh University
	Glamorgan University
	Kings College London
	Middlesex University
	Newcastle University
	Oxford University
	School for Policy Studies (University of Bristol)
	Sheffield Hallam University
	South Bank University
	University of Bristol
	University of Central England
	University of Glamorgan
	University of Glasgow
	University of Leicester
	University of Liverpool
	University of Manchester
	University of Oxford
	University of Southampton
	University of Surrey
	University of Warwick
	University of York
	 List B: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2003-04
	ACF Hospitality
	Aidan Wilcox
	Alan Aldridge
	Alan Dyson
	Alan Gilbert
	Alice Bloch
	Andrew Harvey
	Andrew Percy
	Anthony Bleetman
	B. Fletcher
	Barry Webb
	Beryl Foster
	Betsy Thorn
	BMRB International
	Brian Francis
	Cathy Humphreys
	Cathy Pharoah
	Charities Aid Foundation
	Charles Jackson
	Charlie Lloyd
	Chris Brunsdon
	Chris Hale
	Christine Knott
	Christine Mann
	Christos Byron
	Churches Commission for Racial Justice
	Colin Aitken
	Colin Roberts
	Coretta Phillips
	Coretta Phillips/Ben Bowling
	Crime Concern
	Daniel Gilling
	David Berridge
	David Brown
	David Gee
	Debra Salmon
	Denis Allnutt
	Derrick Armstrong
	Dick Hobbs
	Dougal Hutchison
	Dr. Andrew Costello
	Ed Mitchell
	Eileen Goddard
	Enterprise LSE Ltd
	Eugene McLauglin
	Galahad SMS Ltd.
	Gene Feder
	Gloria Laycock
	Gordon Hay
	Harry Daniels
	Hartley McMaster
	Hazel Kemshall
	Hobbs  Hook Consulting
	Howard Parker
	Inst.of Education
	Inst.of Psychiatry
	Institute for Criminal Policy Research
	Institute for Volunteering Research
	James Brown
	James Milner
	James Mitchell
	Jan Van Dijk
	Janet Foster
	Janet Stockdale (LSE)
	Janet Walker
	Jason Ditton
	Jeffery Round
	Jennifer Brown
	Jessica Jacobson
	Jim LeBeau
	Jo Moran Ellis
	John Spincer
	John Tierney
	John Witton
	Jonathan Shepherd
	Joseph P. Hornick
	Joyce Green
	Joyce Plotnikoff
	Joyce Plotnikoff/Richard Woolfson
	Judith Watson
	Julie Vennard
	K International
	Katia Amore
	Keith Soothill
	Ken Pease
	Kris Bush
	Leslie J Moran
	Leslie L Davidson
	Lexicon Ltd.
	Liz Kelly
	Lucent
	Ludwig Kraus
	MA Research
	Margaret Hauser
	Marian Barnes
	Martin Gill
	Martin Hamblin GfK
	Martin Innes
	Martin Plant
	Mary McMurran
	Matrix Research and Consultancy
	Matt Hopkins
	Matthew Hickman
	MHB
	Michael Gossop
	Michael Tuffrey
	Michael Zander
	Mike Hough
	Mike Levi
	Mike Locke
	Mike Maguire
	Mike Nash
	Mike Shiner
	Mike Sutton
	MORI
	Murray Rose
	NACRO
	Nando Sigona
	National Centre For Social Research
	Neighbourhood Renewal Unit
	NERA
	NFER
	NFO Social Research
	Nick Tilley
	North London Forensic Service
	Office for Public Management
	Opinion Leader Research
	ORC International
	Paul Catley
	Paul Turnbull
	Per-Olaf Wikstrom
	Peter Clarke
	Peter Kemp
	Peter Lynn
	Peter Reuter
	Peter Wells/Lynne Dowson
	Plusfour Market Research
	Rebecca McKetin
	Robert Adlam
	Robert Langworthy
	Robert Witt
	Rodney Taylor
	Roger Matthews
	Roger Vickerman
	Ronald Clarke
	Sally Hillsman
	Sally L Clarke
	Shane Johnson
	Sharon Lloyd
	Simon Holdaway
	Social Issues Research Centre
	St. George's Hospital Medical School
	Stakeholder Research Associates Ltd. (Charles Jackson)
	Stephen Machin
	Stephen Pudney
	Steven Furnell
	Stuart Lister
	Sue Bridge
	Susan Edwards
	Susan McVie
	Suzie Scott
	Sylvia Chennery
	Terri Moffitt
	Terry Honess
	Tim John
	Tim Millar
	Tim Read
	Tom Ellis
	Trescom Research and Consultancy Ltd.
	Trevor Jones
	Urban Institute
	Vaughn Robinson
	Way With Words
	Wesley Skogan
	 List C: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2004-05
	KCSG  Keele University
	Lancaster University
	Northumbria University
	Nottingham Trent University
	Sheffield Hallam University
	The University of Birmingham
	University College London
	University of Bath
	University of Essex
	University of Essex
	University of Glamorgan
	University of Glasgow
	University of Lancaster
	University of Manchester
	University of Portsmouth
	University of York
	 List D: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2004-05
	A. Culyer
	A. Worrall
	Abbsec
	Alan Clarke
	Alan Dowie
	Alan Williams
	Alex Hirschfield
	Alice Bloch
	Alison Liebling
	Andrew Costello
	Andrew Sanders
	Barbara Leonard
	Ben Bowling
	Betsy Stanko
	BMRB International
	Brian Francis
	Bryan Collis
	Bryan Gibson
	C.Hoyle Oxford
	Caroline Hudson
	Cassin - Scott Associates Ltd
	Charities Aid Foundation
	Chris Brunsdon
	Chris Hale
	Christine Godfrey
	Claire Corbett
	Clive Hollin
	Colin Drummond
	Colin Roberts/Paul Dawson
	Colin Webster
	Coretta Phillips
	Creative Research Limited
	Crime Concern
	Datasprings
	David Best
	David Carrington
	David Farrington
	David Mackay
	David Pearce
	David Williams
	David Woodthorpe
	Deloitte MCS Ltd
	Derek Deadman
	Dick Hobbs
	DSTL
	DVLA
	Emma Wincup
	Evidence Led Solutions
	Fast Future
	Fergal Davis
	Fiona Poland
	Future Creation
	G. Stoker
	Gary Craig/Marilyn Taylor
	Geoff Berry Associates
	Geoffrey Randall
	George Mair
	Gil Martin
	Gloria Laycock
	Goeff Berry Associates
	Gordon Hay
	Graham Davies
	Graham Farrell
	Hannah Siddiqui
	Hartley McMaster
	Hassan Isse
	Helen Westcott
	Henley Centre
	Hobbs and Hook Consulting
	HVR
	Ian Plewis
	ICPR
	Inst for Work Health
	Institute for Employment Studies
	Jan Pickles
	Jason Ditton
	Jim Camp
	Jo Dean
	Joanna Taylor
	John Eck
	John Raine
	Juanjo Medina
	Judy Nixon
	Julie Vennard
	Katia Amore
	Keith Soothill
	Ken Pease
	Khalid Koser
	Laurence Alison
	Leslie J Moran
	Lexicon Ltd
	Liz Kelly
	Loraine Gelsthorpe
	Louise Hobbs
	M.Johnson
	Mandy Burton
	Marianne Hester
	Mark Kebbell
	Mark Liddle
	Martin Gill
	Martin Innes
	Mary McMurran
	Matt Hickman
	Matt Hopkins
	MHB
	Michael Tonry
	Mike Clarke
	Mike Hough
	Mike Levi
	Mike Locke
	Mike Maguire
	Mike Nash
	Mike Sutton
	MORI
	MORI/NOP
	Nat Inst of Econ  Social Res
	National Centre for Social Research
	NCSR/BMRB
	Neil McKeganey
	Nick Longford (SNTL)
	NOP World
	Norman Davidson
	North London Forensic Service, Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust
	Oakleigh Consulting Ltd
	ODTC
	Opinion Leader Research
	PA Consulting Group
	Pat Mayhew
	Paul McMullan
	Pauline Lane
	Pete Alcock
	Peter C Smith
	Peter Jordan
	Peter Manning
	Peter Marshall
	Peter Raynor
	Peter Wells
	Plotnikoff and Woolfson
	Prof David Pearce
	Prof David Smith
	Ray Bull
	Richard Disney
	Rick Brown
	Robert Gilchrist
	Robert Witt
	Robin Marris
	Robin Williams
	Roger Tarling
	Ron Clarke
	Ros Burnett
	Ross Coomber
	Rowland Atkinson
	S.Wilcox
	Safe Neighbourhoods Unit
	Sally L Clarke
	Shirley Simpson
	Simon Holdaway
	Simon Merrington
	Stakeholder Research Associates
	Stavros Georgiou
	Stephen Machin
	Steve Collett
	Steven Furnell
	Stuart Lister
	Survey and Statistical Computing
	Susan McVie
	T. Connell
	Tessa Peasgood
	Thangam Debbonaire
	The Future Foundation
	Tiggey May
	Tim Newburn
	TNS
	Tony Culyer
	Tzeggai Deres
	UCL Consultants Ltd
	Vaughan Robinson
	Verity Gelsthorpe
	Wesley Skogan
	 List E: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2005-06
	Cambridge University Technical Services Ltd
	South Bank University
	University of Huddersfield
	University of Wolverhampton
	London Metropolitan University
	University of Bristol
	University of Leicester
	York University/ Charities Aid Foundation
	University College London
	 List F: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2005-06
	Andrew Westlake
	Anthony Culyer
	Anthony Petrosino
	BMRB
	Chris Hale
	Christian Dustmann
	Clive Smee
	Cragg Ross Dawson
	Dept of Health
	Duncan Raistrick
	Duncan Raistrick
	Ethnos Research and Consultancy
	Eurodata Computer Services
	Filip Smit
	G3 Ltd Statistical Training and Consultancy
	Hobbs  Hook
	ICM Research
	Ipsos MORI
	James Brown
	Jennifer Hamley
	Joanna Taylor
	John Marsden
	Ludwig Kraus
	Lynda Joeman
	Matrix Research and Consultancy
	Michael Jones-Lee
	Michael Waterson
	Morgan Harris Burrows
	MORI
	Natcen
	NOP
	Oakleigh Consulting
	PA Consulting
	Peter John
	Peter Jordan Associates
	Professor Chris Skinner
	Professor Peter Lynn
	Roger Vickerman
	Roy Robertson
	Sally L Clarke
	Tim Weaver
	TNS
	TQMI
	TRL
	Way With Words
	 List G: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2006-07
	Bristol University
	De Montfort University
	Glasgow Caledonian University
	Institute of Education, University of London
	Northumbria University
	Nottingham Trent University
	Sheffield Hallam University
	The Open University
	The University of Manchester
	University of Birmingham
	University of Cambridge
	University of London
	University of Sheffield
	University of York
	 List H: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2006-07
	Alan Krupnick
	Alex Hirschfield
	Ann Netten
	Ben Bowling
	Bill Rhodes
	BMRB Social Research
	Carol Proper
	Caroline Friendship
	Cathy Pharoah
	Charities Aid Foundation
	Charlie Owen
	Coretta Pillips
	Creative Research
	Daniel Nagin
	Darrck Jolliffe
	E.M.W. Maguire
	Evidence Led Solutions
	Geoff Berry Associates
	Helen Powell
	HVR Consulting
	ICPR-Kings College London
	Ipsos-MORI
	John Roman
	Julia Wickson
	Kevin Marsh
	Mark Cohen
	Martin Hamblin gfk
	Matrix Research and consultancy
	Morgan Harris Burrows
	Mori
	Natcen
	National Centre for Social Research
	Oxford Economic Forecasting
	Peter Reuter
	PRCI Ltd
	Prof. L Paoli
	Professor Peter Lynn
	Roger Bowles
	Stephen Machin
	Steve Aos
	Steve Wilcox
	UCL Consultants
	Way with Words
	 List I: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2007-08
	Keele University
	Nottingham Trent University
	The University of Manchester
	University of Birmingham
	University of Bristol
	University of Cardiff
	University of Kent
	University of Oxford
	University of York
	 List J: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2007-08
	Analytica
	BMRB
	Dr F. MacDonald
	Dr Ronald Clarke
	Eurasylum
	Evidence Led Solutions
	Garry Robbins
	Geoff Berry Associates
	HVR Consulting
	ICPR, Kings College
	Independent Social Research
	Institute for Employment Studies
	Ipsos MORI
	Mark Underhill
	Matrix
	Morgan Harris Burrows
	MVA Consultancy
	NatCen
	ORC International
	Perpetuity Research  Consultancy
	Professor Anthony Culyer
	Professor C. Dustmann
	Professor C. Godfrey
	Professor C. Hale
	Professor Clive Smee
	Professor M. Waterson
	Professor R. Vickerman
	Professor S. Machin
	Professor S. Pudney
	RED Scientific
	Risk Solutions
	Robert Bramley
	Transparency Research Ltd
	York Consulting
	 List K: Institutions supported by higher education funding councils 2008-09
	Aberystwyth University
	LSE (Centre of Economic Performance)
	Northumbria University
	Nottingham Trent University
	University of Huddersfield
	University of Oxford
	 List L: Other organisations and bodies including named individuals 2008-09
	Alex Hirschfield
	Evidence Led Solutions
	Geoff Berry
	Ipsos MORI
	Julia Wickson
	Mike Maguire
	Morgan Harris Burrows
	ORC International
	UCL Consultants

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by her Department in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; what estimate she has made of the (A) outturn cost and (B) completion date of each such project which is ongoing; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Legislation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Acts for which her Department has policy responsibility received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2009; which provisions of those Acts  (a) have not yet come into force,  (b) have been repealed prior to coming into force and  (c) have been repealed after coming into force; and how many prosecutions have taken place for each offence created under each of those Acts.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 4 March 2009
	 The provisions of the following Acts, which received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2009 and for which the Home Secretary has policy responsibility, are fully in force:
	Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997
	Special Immigration Appeals Act 1997
	Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998
	Criminal Justice (International Co-operation)(Amendment) Act 1998
	Crime and Disorder Act 1998
	Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999
	Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Act 1999
	Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
	Football Disorder Act 2000
	Terrorism Act 2000
	Mobile Telephones Reprogramming Act 2002
	Football Disorder (Amendment) Act 2002
	Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003
	Sexual Offences Act 2003
	Extradition Act 2003
	Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005
	Terrorism Act 2006
	Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
	The table lists provisions of Acts for which the Home Secretary has policy responsibility which received Royal Assent between 1 May 1997 and 1 January 2009 which are not yet in force.
	It is not possible to provide lists of provisions which have been repealed prior to coming into force or which have been repealed after coming into force, without incurring disproportionate cost. For the same reason, it is not possible to say how many prosecutions have taken place for each offence created under each of the Acts referred to above.
	
		
			  Act  Sections not in force 
			 Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 85(5) (in part), Sch 2(2) (in part) 
			 Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 78 
			 Asylum and Immigration(Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 16 
			 Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 1-18, 22-28, 30-61, 91, Sch 2-6, Sch 9 Part 3 
			 Crime (International Co-Operation) Act 2003 10-12, 20-25, 54-75, Sch 3, Sch 4 
			 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 98-117, 125, 130-137, 146 
			 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 78(7), 80(4), Sch 7 para 6 (in part) 
			 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 9, 12 and Sch 10, 11 and 12 (in part) 
			 Drugs Act 2005 2 
			 Identity Cards Act 2006 1-24, 27-35, 39, 41, 42, 43, Sch 1 
			 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 16 and 17, 117(5) 
			 Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 44, 50(3) (in part) and (6) 
			 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 10(5)(a), 17 and 18 (for certain purposes), 19-33, 35(1) (a)-(g)(i) and (2) and (3), 36, 37, 39, 40(2) and (3), 41(2) and (3), 44-47, 51, 53, 124 
			 Police and Justice Act 2006 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 34, 43(1), 46 (in part), Sch 2 (in part), Sch 5 (in part), Sch 8, Sch 13 (in part), Sch 14 (in part) and Sch 15 (in part) 
			 Police Reform Act 2002 45 
			 Private Security Industry Act 2001 17 (part) 
			 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Sch 11 para 17 (2) and Sch 12 (part) 
			 Serious Crime Act 2007 77, 91 and 92, Sch 10, 13 and 14 (all in part) 
			 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 120, 121, 114(9), 117(part), 162(3), Sch 4 (part), Sch 9 (part), Sch 10 (part), Sch 14 (part) 
			 UK Borders Act 2007 19, 24, 32-38 (part), and 57 
			 Vehicle (Crime) Act 2001 8, 34, 35, 36, Sch paras 1 and 2 
			 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 1-14, 61, Sch 2 (part), Sch 5 (part)

Departmental Manpower

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) permanent,  (b) agency and  (c) temporary staff on contracts of (i) up to three months, (ii) between three and six months, (iii) between six and 12 months and (iv) 12 months or more there are in each directorate of her Department.

Phil Woolas: Permanent Home Office civil servants are recruited on open ended contracts.
	The Home Office policy on the tenure of agency staff is in concert with guidance promulgated by the Cabinet Office: Agency contracts are restricted to a maximum of 11 months; this may be extended in exceptional circumstances. Our databases do not record contract length details. To provide this information would incur a disproportionate cost owing to the need to investigate individual locally held staff files.
	Temporary staff includes fixed-term appointments (FTA) whose contracts are for less than 12 months and those staff on short-term contracts paid through the Home Office payroll system. Our databases do not record length of contracts. To provide this information would incur a disproportionate cost owing to the need to investigate individual staff files.
	Total numbers of staff are available in the 2008 Home Office departmental report at pages 102 to 104. A copy or the report is available in the House Library. Alternatively it can be found on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/ho-annual-report-08/

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what private finance initiatives her Department has entered into since 1997; what the total value of each contract was; who the name of the successful contractor was; which projects have been subject to refinancing arrangements; what the monetary value of the refinancing arrangement was in each such case; and what the extent of the clawback has been.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department has entered into three private finance initiatives since 1997. Details of these contracts are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  PFI description  Value of contract ( million) inclusive of VAT  Name of successful contractor  Has the PFI been subject to refinancing yes/no 
			 Home Office Central London accommodation (2 Marsham Street) 1,406.5 over 26 years Anne's Gate Property plc No 
			 IT 2000 (Sinus) 700 over 10 years Fujitsu Services (Alcedo) Limited No 
			 IPS IT Pass Project 396.7 over 11 years Siemens IT Services and Solutions No

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital funding her Department has brought forward from its  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11 budgets for use in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and to what ends this funding has been allocated.

Phil Woolas: As announced in the pre-Budget report on 24 November, 20 million of capital expenditure has been brought forward from 2010-11 to 2009-10. Half of this sum has been allocated to the Serious Organised Crime Agency and half to the National Police Improvement Agency, for improving their estates, developing and installing high technology systems and enhancing intelligence gathering against serious organised crime.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1826W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate she has made of the annual salary cost of  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by her Department in each year since 2005-06.

Phil Woolas: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the salary costs of the recruits provided in the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1826W, without incurring a disproportionate cost. Significant time would need to be spent on investigating individual staff records to establish salary information.

Departmental Travel

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nights she spent in hotels on official business in each  (a) region and  (b) overseas country in each month since July 2007.

Phil Woolas: The Government publish an annual list of Ministers' visits overseas costing more than 500. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's written statement of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 102WS, set out spending for the financial year 2007-08. Information for 2008-09 will be published in the usual way after the end of the current financial year.
	Information is not collected in a format to provide for the number of nights spent in hotels in each region.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much expenditure was incurred in respect of overseas visits which  (a) she,  (b) other Ministers in her Department and  (c) her Department's senior officials undertook in 2008.

Phil Woolas: Since 1999, the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the financial year 2007-08 was published on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 102WS and for the first time, included details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	The Department's accounting system does not separately identify expenditure undertaken by officials according to grade. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is required to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. This is in accordance with the civil service Management Code.

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average time her Department has taken to answer  (a) named day and  (b) ordinary written questions in Session 2008-09; how many named day questions received a reply on the day named; and how many named day questions receiving a holding reply received a substantive reply after a further (i) one day, (ii) two days, (iii) three days, (iv) four days, (v) five days, (vi) one week, (vii) two weeks and (viii) three weeks or more.

Alan Campbell: The following two tables provide the information requested for the parliamentary Session to date.
	
		
			  Table 1: Home Office performance  answering named day( 1)  and ordinary written questions for 2008- 09 parliamentary Session to 10 March 2009 
			  Number 
			   Named day  Ordinary written 
			 Total answered 258 1,267 
			 Average (median) sitting days to answer 5 6 
			 (1) Named day questions include oral questions that are unstarred or not reached on the day. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Sitting days taken to answer named day( 1)  questions, parliamentary Session 2008-09, to 10 March 2009 
			  Answered  Number  Percentage 
			 By named day 86 34 
			 1 sitting day late 5 2 
			 2 sitting days late 41 16 
			 3 sitting days late 40 16 
			 4 sitting days late 19 7 
			 5 sitting days late 13 5 
			 6-10 sitting days late 31 12 
			 11-15 sitting days late 14 5 
			 Over 15 sitting days late 9 3 
			 Total 258 100 
			 (1) Named day questions include oral questions that are unstarred or not reached on the day.

Deportation: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 284W, on deportation: Peterborough, how many individual records would have to be manually identified and analysed in order to produce a summary report; and what the estimated cost of doing so would be.

Phil Woolas: The very nature of this question means it is difficult to quantify. High level estimates suggest that costs would exceed 10,000 and are therefore considered to be disproportionate.

Electronic Government

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on the development of the e-justice portal; and how much has been allocated for spending on such activity in each of the next two financial years.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Commission are leading the implementation of the European e-Justice portal and signed a contract with a service provider on 25 February 2009 to deliver the first release by 14 December 2009. Officials from all member states have contributed to the development of an e-Justice action plan which sets out the priorities and the technical specifications of the portal. The first release of the portal will include information on national and community law and procedures and will provide a link between insolvency, land and business registers in a number of member states.
	The Commission are funding the development of the portal. As a rough guide, they have budgeted 1.5 million for the contract to develop the first release this year. However the scope of the portal and budget allocation will only become clear once the project and a content roadmap have been prepared in the near future. There is no compulsion for member states to be involved in individual European e-Justice projects and the decision about whether or not we will fund participation in particular projects will be made by the appropriate budget holding Department on a case by case basis.

Entry Clearances: Pakistan

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visitor visas from individuals in Pakistan are  (a) being processed and  (b) awaiting processing; and what the average waiting time between application and decision for such application was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 March 2009
	We can provide figures for the number of applications (a) received and (b) resolved in any given period. During February 2009, a total of 2,441 UK visit visa applications were lodged at our visa application centres in Pakistan. Details of applications resolved in that month, including processing times, are shown in the following table. Some of the applications that were resolved will have been lodged before 1 February.
	
		
			  Visit visa applications: PakistanFebruary 2009 
			Percentage resolved within (working days) 
			  Visa application centre  Number of applications resolved  5  10  15  30 
			 Islamabad 2,656 76.8 91.0 96.6 98.3 
			 Karachi 1,193 5.5 17.5 33.5 96.3 
			 Lahore 2,291 4.6 20.5 38.8 94.6 
			 Mirpur 342 75.5 89.5 90.7 91.5 
			  Source: Central Reference System/UKBA Visa Services website

Human Trafficking: Deportation

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 17 to 19 year olds apprehended following investigations into child trafficking have subsequently been deported in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: This information is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis. National statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

National DNA Database: Children

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many profiles stored on the national DNA database were of children aged  (a) under two years,  (b) two years,  (c) three years,  (d) four years,  (e) five years,  (f) six years,  (g) seven years,  (h) eight years and  (i) nine years on the latest date for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The Home Secretary made clear in her speech on 16 December 2008 that she believed it was wrong for children under 10 years to be held on the national DNA database. As a result, as of 5 March 2009, none of the profiles stored on the national DNA database by police forces in England and Wales were of children aged under 10 years old.

Offenders: Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on deportations in 2008.

Phil Woolas: It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the overall cost of removals and deportations in 2008 because there are many different factors which may or may not be involved in the cost of a case (such as detention costs, travel costs, and the cost of escorting the individual in question). We are unable to disaggregate the specific costs and any attempt to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Offenders: Foreigners

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners were being held in police detention on 28 February 2009.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	On 28 February 2009 there were no foreign national prisoners held in police cells under Operation Safeguard.
	Police cells under Operation Safeguard have not been used to hold prisoners since 22 September 2008 and no police cells have been on stand by since the end of October 2008.
	I am unable to say if any foreign national prisoners were held in police custody other than under Operation Safeguard.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had discussions with private security companies on security arrangements for the London 2012 Olympics.

Vernon Coaker: In recent months we have briefed representatives of the wider private security and security supply industries about the Olympic security programme. We have an ongoing engagement with industry over the Government's Olympic security needs.
	We are working with the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the British Security Industry Authority (BSIA) to ensure that there is appropriate provision of private security staff during the Games. We will consider carefully the lessons from previous Games about retention of security staff. We are providing financial support for the 'Bridging the Gap' initiative with Skills for Security and the Further Education sector to provide training for new security staff aimed at roles within the Games and a long-term career in the industry.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice her Department has provided to hotels in London on security arrangements for the London 2012 Olympics.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 March 2009
	The Government have already provided hotels with security advice through the National Counter Terrorism Security Office publication 'Counter Terrorism Protective Security Advice for Hotels and Restaurants'. We intend to provide complementary Olympic-specific guidance to hotels hosting athletes, officials and members of the Olympic family at the appropriate time as part of our wider Olympic security plans.

Police: Resignations

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers resigned in each year since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: Available data relate to the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 and are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer resignations( 1)  by police force area (FTE( 2) ): England and Wales, 2005-06 to 2007-08( 3) 
			  Police force area  2005-06( 4)  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 77 35 48 
			 Bedfordshire 24 23 31 
			 Cambridgeshire 26 28 12 
			 Cheshire 37 24 17 
			 Cleveland 24 25 23 
			 Cumbria 11 17 11 
			 Derbyshire 20 41 39 
			 Devon and Cornwall 44 34 38 
			 Dorset 22 19 26 
			 Durham 15 16 19 
			 Essex 79 81 73 
			 Gloucestershire 19 20 18 
			 Greater Manchester 186 159 136 
			 Hampshire 64 49 46 
			 Hertfordshire 55 63 50 
			 Humberside 31 34 40 
			 Kent 66 49 57 
			 Lancashire 26 32 34 
			 Leicestershire 45 27 53 
			 Lincolnshire 20 16 16 
			 London, City of 11 11 16 
			 Merseyside 83 61 41 
			 Metropolitan Police 337 531 360 
			 Norfolk 22 24 16 
			 Northamptonshire 24 19 25 
			 Northumbria 38 49 46 
			 North Yorkshire 17 32 31 
			 Nottinghamshire 14 28 23 
			 South Yorkshire 40 38 40 
			 Staffordshire 24 22 24 
			 Suffolk 14 12 23 
			 Surrey 37 46 47 
			 Sussex 82 76 76 
			 Thames Valley 131 86 78 
			 Warwickshire 12 18 20 
			 West Mercia 19 38 32 
			 West Midlands 137 105 91 
			 West Yorkshire 89 65 84 
			 Wiltshire 26 16 28 
			 Dyfed-Powys 12 8 12 
			 Gwent 20 16 24 
			 North Wales 27 22 16 
			 South Wales 29 39 80 
			 Total 2,133 2,151 2,020 
			 (1) Does not include transfers to other England and Wales forces. (2) Full-time equivalent figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of this there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and sums of the constituent items. (3) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. (4) Over 1,000 police officers previously working with the National Crime Squad (NCS) and the National Criminal Intelligence Squad (NCIS) left their home force to join the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) when it launched on 1 April 2006.

Prostitution

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had on the proposals contained in her Department's review Tackling The Demand For Prostitution 08 with  (a) the English Collective of Prostitutes,  (b) the International Sex Workers' Union,  (c) the National Association of Probation Officers,  (d) the Police Federation,  (e) the Prison Officers' Association,  (f) local authorities,  (g) organisations from the voluntary sector and  (h) the Law Society; and if she will publish written submissions on the subject her Department has received from each such organisation.

Alan Campbell: The Government wrote to a range of interested organisations on 26 September to seek their views on proposed legislation. We received 67 responses from a variety of organisations representing the voluntary sector, statutory partners, local authorities and representatives of persons involved in prostitution and the lap dancing industry. This was not a formal consultation and we did not indicate to potential respondents that their responses would be published. We therefore do not feel it appropriate to do so, although individual organisations are, of course, free to publicise their own views.
	The issues involved here have also been subject to detailed scrutiny and discussion during the passage of the Policing and Crime Bill.

JUSTICE

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what duration he expects the next contract for the provision of the bail accommodation and support services to last.

Jack Straw: Decisions about the duration of the next contract will be taken as part of any re-tendering process.

Care Proceedings: Applications

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for care proceedings were made by local authorities in England and Wales in each month of  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Bridget Prentice: The number of public law care and supervision applications under section 31 of the Children Act 1989 from April 2007 to December 2008 are shown in the following table. Public law cases are those brought by local authorities or an authorised person (currently only the NSPCC). Figures relate to the number of children that are subject to each application, are for England and Wales, and have been rounded to the nearest 10. Please note that 2008 figures remain subject to change, particularly the later months of the year.
	The majority of applications are made in Family Proceedings Courts (FPCs). There have been data quality issues with figures for FPCs, and a new method of data collection was introduced in April 2007 which has improved the quality and level of recording on previous years. Prior to April 2007 the collection was on a quarterly basis, meaning that monthly data are not available.
	Comparisons between short time periods (one or two months) as presented in this table should be made with caution as these figures are subject to more volatility than those covering longer time periods.
	
		
			  Number of public law care and supervision applications under section 31 of the Children Act 1989, England and Wales  County Courts and Family Proceedings Courts 
			   Family Proceedings Courts( 1)  County Courts( 2)  Total( 3) 
			 April 2007 820 350 1,160 
			 May 2007 1,030 350 1,380 
			 June 2007 860 330 1,190 
			 July 2007 1,030 250 1,280 
			 August 2007 960 290 1,250 
			 September 2007 840 230 1,070 
			 October 2007 900 250 1,150 
			 November 2007 920 240 1,150 
			 December 2007 870 140 1,010 
			 January 2008 970 140 1,110 
			 February 2008 880 160 1,040 
			 March 2008 1,040 250 1,290 
			 April 2008 590 220 810 
			 May 2008 550 160 710 
			 June 2008 650 300 950 
			 July 2008 800 310 1,110 
			 August 2008 780 160 930 
			 September 2008 830 180 1,010 
			 October 2008 870 200 1,070 
			 November 2008 1,090 160 1,240 
			 December 2008 1,270 230 1,500 
			 (1) There have been data quality issues with figures for Family Proceedings Courts. A new method of collection was introduced in April 2007 which has improved the coverage and completeness of data. Figures for three courts in January 2008 have been estimated. (2) Research undertaken on behalf of Ministry of Justice has identified that some cases that have transferred from the Family Proceedings Court to the County Court have been incorrectly recorded as new applications in the County Court, thus inflating the reported number of new applications through double counting (see Masson et al 2008). (3) Does not include applications in High Courts.  Source: HMCS FamilyMan and manual returns, as at January 2009

Departmental Public Consultation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultation documents have been issued by  (a) the National Offender Management Service and  (b) HM Courts Service in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: In the last 12 months, the National Offender Management Service has issued the following consultation documents:
	Best Value in Probation
	Rules for Mandatory Polygraphy for Sex Offenders
	Reducing Reoffending in London
	In the last 12 months, Her Majesty's Courts Service has issued the following consultation documents:
	Proposed closure of Nelson County Court
	The Future of Camden and Islington Youth Work
	Consultation on the proposal to merge the Dudley and Stourbridge and Halesowen Local Justice Areas
	Proposed Merger of Warley and West Bromwich Local Justice Areas.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what contribution he expects each of his Department's  (a) agencies and  (b) business areas to make to its performance and efficiency programme;
	(2)  what contribution he expects each agency for which his Department is responsible and each business area in his Department to make to the Performance and Efficiency Programme.

Jack Straw: The performance and efficiency programme (PEP) has been established to ensure that the Ministry of Justice achieves 1 billion in value for money savings by 2011.
	The following table shows the savings expected from each of the Ministry of Justice's agencies and business areas, as published in the Value for Money Delivery Agreement in February 2008.
	
		
			  MoJ business group/agency  Planned savings over CSR07 ( million) 
			 National Offender Management Service (NOMS) 250 
			 Legal Aid Reform 180 
			 Her Majesty's Court Service 140 
			 Tribunals Service 45 
			 Other 392 
			 Total Value for Money Savings Target l,007 
		
	
	The Department's progress against these targets, the breakdown of which continues to be refined, was set out in the autumn performance report in December 2008 and will be published in the forthcoming Departmental Annual Report in May. The MoJ is ensuring its frontline services are protected while increasing efficiency in its back office areas.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) staff and  (b) ministerial away days were organised by his Department in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each year.

Jack Straw: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) does not hold centrally information on how many staff away days were organised. To collate this information would necessitate enquiring of all business areas across significant number of MOJ bodies, which would entail disproportionate cost.
	The MOJ was launched on 9 May 2007. Since then there have been two ministerial away days. One in November 2007 cost 2,618 and one in October 2008 cost 1,505.70.

Domestic Violence: Sentencing

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders have been  (a) fined,  (b) imprisoned and  (c) given community service following convictions for domestic violence in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: The requested information is not available. Offences of domestic violence cannot be separately identified from other violent offences on the courts proceedings database, as only the offence is recorded not the circumstances of the offence.

Drugs: Sentencing

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of the  (a) male and  (b) female prison population received their sentence for committing drugs offences.

David Hanson: At the end of January 2009, 15.2 per cent. of all sentenced male prisoners (9,780 out of 64,136) and 26.9 per cent. of all sentenced female prisoners (899 out of 3,337) in all prison establishments in England and Wales were serving sentences for drugs offences.
	This information is taken from the Ministry of Justice monthly bulletin to be found at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/populationincustody.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Executive Agencies: Pay

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much non-consolidated performance pay was paid to staff of  (a) HM Courts Service,  (b) HM Prison Service and  (c) the Youth Justice Board in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: Across the MOJ, end-year non-consolidated performance payments have been made to high performing members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS) to reflect their individual contribution during the previous performance year.
	For staff in pay bands beneath the SCS, payment of non-consolidated performance pay may be either in year or end of year. In year non-consolidated performance payments are one-off payments to staff who have made an exceptional contribution on specific occasions. End of year non-consolidated performance pay has been paid as part of the Ministry's pay award to staff who have performed at an exceptional level throughout the performance year.
	The figures in the following table show the total of in year and end of year payments to all staff in both the SCS and grades below the SCS:
	
		
			   
			   HMCS( 1)  HMPS( 2)  YJB 
			 2007-08 3,677,512 2,660,805 82,440 
			 2006-07 2,251,135 2,022,390 67,980 
			 2005-06 1,585,003 202,483 33,110 
			 (1) The figure for 2007-2008 includes end of year non-consolidated performance pay to staff in HMCS only, and in year payments for all core MoJ, including MoJ headquarters and the tribunals service. The figures for the two previous years include all performance related payments for core MoJ i.e. including MoJ headquarters and the tribunals service. It is not possible, other than at disproportionate cost, to disaggregate these figures further. (2) The figures for non-consolidated performance pay to staff in HMPS for 2005-06 only refer to those in the SCS. Details of payments to staff below SCS could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Governance of Britain: Public Consultation

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenditure has been incurred since 3 July 2007 on  (a) events and  (b) consultations held as part of the Governance of Britain agenda.

Michael Wills: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	Table A includes events that have been held to date, involving external stakeholders and/or members of the public, where the Ministry of Justice incurred the expenditure. Table B includes the publication costs of all written consultations and the costs of deliberative consultations associated with the Governance of Britain agenda, but only where the Ministry of Justice incurred the expenditure. In addition we have attributed 50 per cent. of the costs associated with the development and maintenance of the Youth Citizenship Commission and Governance of Britain microsites to take account of the costs associated with running the online engagement and discussions.
	
		
			  Table A: Events 
			  Description of event  Cost () 
			 Governance of Britain event in Leicester: 10 December 2007 36,963.50 
			 Five Governance of Britain 'townhall' events: June/July 2008 3929.42 
			   
			  Goldsmith Review of Citizenship:  
			 Launch event: 5 October 2007 4,700 
			 Intra-EU seminar: 14 December 2007 3,000 
			 Press conference 11 March 2008 577.51 
			 Publication event: 11 March 2008 4617.12 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Consultations 
			  Description of consultation  Cost () 
			 Development of the Statement of Values 'Framework for Discussion' 4,500 
			   
			  Costs of conducting the 'Election Day: Weekend Voting' consultation:  
			 Design and Printing 6,135.86 
			 Production of welsh version 1,827 
			   
			 Youth Citizenship Commission: deliberative research 255,000 
			   
			  Design and Printing costs for the Framework for Greater citizen engagement discussion paperJuly 2008:  
			 Design and Printing costs 982.25 
			   
			  War Powers and Treaties: Limiting Executive Powers:  
			 Design and Printing costs 15,930.90 
			   
			  Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework Green Paper: 23 March 2009:  
			 Design and Print costs 15,747.81 
			   
			 Governance of Britain microsite: Cost of consultation elements of the site (50 per cent. of the total cost of development and maintenance to date) 5,287.87 
			 Youth Citizenship Commission microsite Cost of consultation elements of the site (50 per cent. of the total cost of development and maintenance to date) 17,507

Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) mean and  (b) median sale price in 2008-09 prices was of house sales registered with the Land Registry in each year since 2000.

Michael Wills: Land Registry is able to provide data on the mean price paid of all residential sales registered in each year since 2000. Details of the percentage change on annual average prices have been calculated on the basis of the 2008 calendar year prices as the RPI data covering the 2008-09 financial year are not yet available.
	This question has been answered on the basis of recorded sales figures in England and Wales. Land Registry does not hold the information requested on median price paid and could not produce it except at disproportionate cost.
	The figures are reflected in the following table.
	
		
			   Mean price paid in ()  Mean price paid in () (adjusted to 2008 prices)( 1)  RPI index (1987 = 100) 
			 2000 108,164 136,428 170.3 
			 2001 119,275 147,838 173.3 
			 2002 138,200 168,475 176.2 
			 2003 156,154 185,008 181.3 
			 2004 178,542 205,414 186.7 
			 2005 189,580 212,093 192 
			 2006 203,708 220,881 198.1 
			 2007 219,408 228,116 206.6 
			 2008 217,010 217,010 214.8 
			 (1) Prices adjusted using the UK all items Retail Prices Index (RPI).

Land Registry

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many properties registered with the Land Registry changed ownership in each month since January 2006.

Michael Wills: Land Registry is able to provide information on the total number of registered properties sold in each month from January 2006 to January 2009. As these figures are extracted using price paid data, no information is available for any properties which have not been sold. The only way to identify other changes of ownership would be to extract data regarding every application event over the time period asked for. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The figures are reflected in the following table:
	
		
			  Month/year  Total sales 
			 January 2006 78,006 
			 February 2006 81,001 
			 March 2006 106,341 
			 April 2006 97,462 
			 May 2006 107,618 
			 June 2006 128,613 
			 July 2006 119,610 
			 August 2006 126,181 
			 September 2006 121,013 
			 October 2006 118,243 
			 November 2006 120,144 
			 December 2006 127,001 
			   
			 January 2007 90,989 
			 February 2007 89,910 
			 March 2007 110,260 
			 April 2007 98,874 
			 May 2007 111,931 
			 June 2007 128,012 
			 July 2007 120,878 
			 August 2007 128,896 
			 September 2007 101,607 
			 October 2007 106,389 
			 November 2007 104,527 
			 December 2007 84,568 
			   
			 January 2008 59,831 
			 February 2008 63,861 
			 March 2008 60,296 
			 April 2008 64,799 
			 May 2008 67,217 
			 June 2008 60,784 
			 July 2008 54,239 
			 August 2008 49,435 
			 September 2008 42,438 
			 October 2008 45,248 
			 November 2008 36,238 
			 December 2008 38,410 
			   
			 January 2009 23,458

Magistrates Courts: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases were heard in magistrates courts in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, heard at magistrates courts and committed for trial at the Crown court, for all offences in Cumbria police force area, 1997 to 2007 can be viewed in the following table.
	Information held centrally cannot be broken down to constituency or court level, thus Cumbria police force area data have been provided in lieu.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, heard at magistrates courts and committed for trial at the Crown Court, for all offences in Cumbria Police Force Area, 1997 to 2007( 1,2)  of which: 
			   Proceeded against  Heard at Magistrates courts( 3)  Committed for trial at the Crown Court 
			 1997 21,167 20,500 667 
			 1998 20,275 19,647 628 
			 1999 19,842 19,215 627 
			 2000 17,074 16,477 597 
			 2001 14,653 13,972 681 
			 2002 14,409 13,733 676 
			 2003 18,923 18,282 641 
			 2004 19,151 18,488 663 
			 2005 18,251 17,504 747 
			 2006 18,110 17,485 625 
			 2007 17,7.95 17,079 716 
			 1. These data are on the principal offence basis. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3. Includes proceeding discontinued, discharged, withdrawn, dismissed, and found guilty at the magistrates' courts.  Source:  OCJREA: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence  Analysis Unit Our ref: PQ 264072 (Table).

Magistrates Courts: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of magistrates needed in order to meet the needs of the courts in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in 2009;
	(2)  how many serving magistrates there are in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire.

Jack Straw: In the current year 508 magistrates are needed fully to meet the needs of Hertfordshire, which includes the area of Hemel Hempstead. Currently there are 477 magistrates in Hertfordshire, the recruitment of the additional 31 is in progress.

Magistrates Courts: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the annual running costs were of Larne Magistrates Court in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people have been employed by the Northern Ireland Courts Service to work in Larne Magistrates Court in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many cases have been brought before the small claims court in Larne in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The running costs for Larne magistrates court in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Larne magistrates court 
			  Year ended 31 March  Running costs () 
			 2004 67,389 
			 2005 106,898 
			 2006 88,645 
			 2007 85,774 
			 2008 75,363 
			  Note: Running costs comprise items such as contracted security services, buildings maintenance, rates, electricity, fuel and supplies. 
		
	
	The NI Court Service usually employs two members of staff to work at Larne courthouse.
	The following table sets out the number of small claims cases listed at Larne courthouse in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Number of small claims cases 
			 2004 29 
			 2005 21 
			 2006 18 
			 2007 30 
			 2008(1) 24 
			 (1) January to November. Provisional figuresfull year validated figures are not yet available.

Magistrates Courts: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the running costs of Strabane Magistrates Court have been in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: The running costs for Strabane magistrates court in each of the last five years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Strabane magistrates court 
			  Year ended 31 March  Running costs () 
			 2004 171,705 
			 2005 193,464 
			 2006 184,385 
			 2007 169,453 
			 2008 167,047 
			  Note: Running costs comprise items such as contracted security services, buildings maintenance, rates, electricity, fuel and supplies.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 29 January 2009, transferred from the Department of Health on 12 February 2009, on reform of the suicide law.

Bridget Prentice: The Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) replied to the hon. Member on 4 March 2009. I have arranged for a further copy of this reply to be sent to the hon. Member.

National Offender Management Service

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the meaning is of the reference to reduced scope of proposed plans on page 36 of the NOMS Strategic and Business Plans 2009-10 to 2010-11.

Jack Straw: NOMS reviewed its forward spending plans for the period to 2010-11 as part of a prudent efficiency programme. As a result, it was possible to reduce planned future spending in certain areas, freeing resources for other essential front line work with offenders.
	Specifically, wider economic changes allowed lower assumptions for funding non-recoverable VAT and inflation increases. In addition:
	Probation Services are working to accommodate volume growth within available budgets for the SR period. The overall reduction in probation budgets next year is 2.2 per cent. which has to be seen in the context of sustained investment in probation  budgets have increased by almost 70 per cent. in real terms since 1997.
	Non-essential maintenance work in prisons was deferred.
	Plans to refurbish some mothballed cells were cancelled because current and ongoing investment in the prison estate is bringing supply and demand better into balance, delivering more fit-for-purpose accommodation and represents a much better value-for-money approach. The capacity programme is on target to increase total prison capacity to 96,000 places by 2014.

Prison Sentences

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners are serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection in each prison in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The following tables give the numbers of  (a) male and  (b) female prisoners in each prison establishment in England and Wales who were serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection on 20 February 2008. The tables also note the number of these offenders currently located in psychiatric hospitals, and include offenders who, as under 18s, were sentenced to detention for public protection.
	These figures have been drawn from the NOMS IPP database, and, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Establishment  Male IPPs/DPPs 
			 Acklington 106 
			 Albany 163 
			 Altcourse 57 
			 Ashfield 4 
			 Ashwell 29 
			 Aylesbury 103 
			 Bedford 8 
			 Belmarsh 30 
			 Birmingham 57 
			 Blundeston 37 
			 Brinsford 14 
			 Bristol 17 
			 Brixton 32 
			 Buckley Hall 17 
			 Bullingdon 98 
			 Camp Hill 17 
			 Cardiff 35 
			 Castington 21 
			 Channings Wood 47 
			 Chelmsford 18 
			 Coldingley 48 
			 Cookham Wood 3 
			 Dartmoor 45 
			 Deerbolt 1 
			 Doncaster 12 
			 Dorchester 6 
			 Dovegate 128 
			 Durham 17 
			 Edmunds Hill 1 
			 Elmley 55 
			 Erlestoke 56 
			 Everthorpe 32 
			 Exeter 18 
			 Featherstone 51 
			 Feltham 7 
			 Ford 3 
			 Forest Bank 41 
			 Frankland 88 
			 Full Sutton 44 
			 Garth 191 
			 Gartree 61 
			 Glen Parva 7 
			 Gloucester 10 
			 Grendon 24 
			 Guys Marsh 32 
			 Haverigg 30 
			 Hewell 28 
			 High Down 19 
			 Highpoint 27 
			 Hindley 50 
			 Hollesley Bay 1 
			 Holme House 61 
			 Hull 78 
			 Huntercombe 2 
			 Kennet 7 
			 Kingston 12 
			 Kirkham 7 
			 Lancaster Castle 3 
			 Lancaster Farms 21 
			 Latchmere House 1 
			 Leeds 32 
			 Leicester 7 
			 Lewes 22 
			 Leyhill 2 
			 Lincoln 8 
			 Lindholme 51 
			 Littlehey 52 
			 Liverpool 54 
			 Long Lartin 58 
			 Lowdham Grange 145 
			 Maidstone 13 
			 Manchester 111 
			 Moorland 86 
			 Mount 80 
			 North Sea Camp 1 
			 Norwich 11 
			 Nottingham 24 
			 Onley 20 
			 Parc 65 
			 Parkhurst 140 
			 Pentonville 45 
			 Peterborough 25 
			 Portland 16 
			 Prescoed 2 
			 Preston 19 
			 Ranby 49 
			 Reading 11 
			 Risley 90 
			 Rochester 6 
			 Rye Hill 146 
			 Shepton Mallett 11 
			 Shrewsbury 6 
			 Springhill 1 
			 Stafford 65 
			 Standford Hill 7 
			 Stocken 75 
			 Stoke Heath 2 
			 Sudbury 4 
			 Swaleside 215 
			 Swansea 5 
			 Swinfen Hall 179 
			 Usk 44 
			 Verne 12 
			 Wakefield 35 
			 Wandsworth 95 
			 Warren Hill 9 
			 Wayland 96 
			 Wealstun 32 
			 Wellingborough 47 
			 Werrington 1 
			 Wetherby 14 
			 Whatton 115 
			 Whitemoor 45 
			 Winchester 15 
			 Wolds 38 
			 Woodhill 33 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 13 
			 Wymott 59 
			   
			 Subtotal 4,902 
			   
			 Psychiatric hospitals (various) 78 
			   
			 Total 4980 
		
	
	
		
			  Establishment  Number of female IPPs/DPPs 
			 Askham Grange 3 
			 Bronzefield 2 
			 Downview 14 
			 Drake Hall 3 
			 Eastwood Park 4 
			 Foston Hall 4 
			 Holloway 19 
			 Low Newton 22 
			 New Hall 17 
			 Peterborough 5 
			 Send 22 
			 Styal 10 
			   
			 Subtotal 125 
			   
			 Psychiatric hospitals (various) 15 
			   
			 Total 140

Prisoners Release

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many custodial sentences which terminated in each of the last five years had been reduced by virtue of the time spent by the convict on curfew while on remand.

Shahid Malik: The provisions allowing credit towards custodial sentences for periods of remand on bail while subject to an electronically monitored curfew were not implemented until 3 November 2008. There are no statistics in relation to the number of custodial sentences that have attracted curfew credit from which release has taken place since the implementation of the provisions.

Prisoners: Ex-servicemen

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons have a dedicated identification and support system for prisoners who have previously served in the armed forces; and what forms such systems take in each prison.

David Hanson: There is currently no national dedicated identification system for ex-servicemen held in custody, although there are areas of good practice, such as in the case of Everthorpe prison. This will change with the introduction of PNOMIS IT system which contains specific data entry field for ex-service offenders and trials are underway. In the meantime, the offender assessment system (OASys) prompts an offender supervisor/manager to review an offender's employment history, including military, and work related skills.
	In terms of support systems in place, as part of the Veterans Prison In Reach initiative we are running an extensive cross departmental information campaign aimed at staff, offenders and their families on services available in conjunction with the ex-service charities. We also plan to conduct research to accurately assess the number of veterans in prison to better provide for their needs.
	The Royal British Legion and Action for Prisoners' Families are working together in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the families of offenders are made more aware of the help available to them and this is going to be a priority throughout 2009.

Prisoners: Pregnancy

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many pregnant women in each age group spent time in prison under sentence in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The Prison Service has only routinely kept information centrally on pregnant women in custody since April 2004.
	Before November 2006 data were collected differently and information for April 2004 to October 2006 could be given only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of pregnant women in each age group who have spent time in prison under sentence are as follows:
	
		
			  Date  Pregnant under 18 sentenced  Pregnant 18-21 sentenced  Pregnant over 21 sentenced 
			 November 2006-March 2007 0 34 139 
			 April 2007-March 2008 6 96 371 
			 April 2008-February 2009 5 100 340 
		
	
	Deciding what sentences are appropriate for women offenders is rightly entirely a matter for the courts, but the Government agree that more must be done to ensure that custody is only used for those women who really need to be there.
	The Government are keen to encourage greater use of community alternatives for women offenders wherever possible. We are committed to looking specifically at how to tackle women's offending and addressing the adverse impact of imprisonment on women and their families, particularly their children.
	Women in prison have a right to the same medical provision as women in the community and do not give birth in prison as a matter of course.
	Prison Service Orders make specific provision for the needs of women prisoners who are pregnant or have young children with them in prison.

Prisoners: Women

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women in each age group spent time in prison under sentence in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The following table shows the numbers of women prisoners held under sentence in all prison establishments in England and Wales as at 30 June in each year from 1997 to 2007:
	
		
			  Females  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 All ages 2,066 2,367 2,436 2,666 2,899 3,339 3,477 3,453 3,477 3,512 3,351 
			 15-17 53 62 67 65 64 103 57 58 56 50 56 
			 18-20 165 210 224 265 310 356 305 300 269 272 280 
			 21-24 377 425 427 458 480 596 670 632 612 552 475 
			 25-29 457 501 491 563 588 662 702 727 679 708 662 
			 30-39 627 709 798 862 907 1,030 1,100 1,056 1,072 1,094 1,014 
			 40-49 278 332 301 335 409 439 492 507 586 606 612 
			 50-59 92 116 108 102 121 134 123 152 179 189 203 
			 60 and over 17 12 20 16 19 19 28 20 24 40 49 
			 Small numbers of prisoners held in default of payment of a fine (e.g. six overall in June 2007) are included in these figures. 
		
	
	These figures are taken from table 7.3 in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2007, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library, and which can also be found at the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Standards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison buildings have been assessed as non-compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 in each year since it entered into force.

Shahid Malik: No prison buildings have actually been assessed as non-compliant with the DDA. All new prisons constructed after the introduction of the DDA have been commissioned to be DDA compliant. However, we are aware that a number of prisons, being of Victorian or older design, offer some difficulties to prisoners with severe mobility issues. The policy is that prisoners with such difficulties should not be allocated to prisons which cannot provide the appropriate reasonable adjustments.
	There is a process called the access survey which assesses what difficulties might be encountered with physical access to buildings and the work that is needed to address these difficulties. However, this information is used practically to inform local improvement work and is not collated centrally. It does not constitute an assessment of compliance with the DDA.

Repossession Orders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders have been issued for the repossession of homes in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: Figures for Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency and Tees Valley are not available. However, the following table shows the number of possession orders made in England, Her Majesty's Courts Service north east region and Teesside county court for each month in 2008.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. However, geographical boundaries of county courts may not necessarily be consistent with other administrative or constituency boundaries. Repossession orders made at Teesside county court may therefore relate to properties in other areas besides Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency and Tees Valley.
	These figures do not indicate how many homes have actually been repossessed. Repossessions can occur without a court order being made while not all court orders result in repossession.
	
		
			  Number of mortgage( 1)  and landlord( 2, 3)  possession orders made( 4, 5)  in Teesside county court, HMCS north east region and England by each month( 6) , 2008 
			   Mortgage possession orders made  Landlord possession orders made 
			   Teesside county court  HMCS north east  England  Teesside county court  HMCS north east  England 
			 January 2008 125 1,411 9,371 86 1,521 10,419 
			 February 2008 104 1,169 7,832 53 1,098 8,361 
			 March 2008 82 1,315 7,902 68 1,163 8,239 
			 April 2008 130 1,731 10,041 72 1,399 9,986 
			 May 2008 126 1,325 8,602 48 1,023 7,796 
			 June 2008 129 1,538 9,598 54 1,287 9,075 
			 July 2008 130 1,676 9,527 77 1,270 9,323 
			 August 2008 119 1,397 8,556 68 1,113 8,511 
			 September 2008 111 1,604 9,681 59 1,096 9,144 
			 October 2008 145 1,619 9,930 73 1,320 9,485 
			 November 2008 79 1,401 8,133 70 1,183 8,773 
			 December 2008 111 1,337 7,418 70 1,106 7,821 
			 2008 1,391 17,522 106,590 798 14,579 106,934 
			 (1 )Includes all types of mortgage lenders. (2 )Includes all types of landlord whether social or private. (3 )Landlord actions include those made under both standard and accelerated procedures. Landlord actions via the accelerated procedure enables the orders to be made solely on the basis of written evidence for shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. (4 )The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. (5 )Includes outright and suspended orders, the latter being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually require the defendant to pay the current mortgage or rent instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced. (6 )Figures for the latest quarter (October to December 2008) are provisional.  Source:  Ministry of Justice

Victim Support Schemes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the services provided to victims of crime.

Shahid Malik: The Government have a comprehensive strategy to help victims of crime access appropriate services. We recently appointed a Victims Champion who will listen to the views of victims and the community and make recommendations on how to improve the system.
	Since introducing a statutory code of practice for victims of crime which established minimum rights for victims, we continue to embed best practice across the CJS agencies. This includes working with Local Criminal Justice Boards to ensure they have comprehensive victim and witness strategies that make a difference on the ground.
	We recognise the importance of working with third-sector organisations to deliver direct services for victims. We recently provided additional funding for the national organisation Victim Support to introduce an improved business process, so that victims can be contacted more quickly, have their needs assessed and offered a wider range of practical services than was previously available.
	The Government have invested further resources into specialist services for victims. This includes sexual assault referral centres, independent domestic violence and sexual violence advisors and national and local specialist third-sector organisations. We have also made legal changes that will impact on certain victims; for example we ratified the Council of Europe convention on action against the trafficking in human beings, creating minimum protection rights.
	The recently published Youth Crime Action Plan sets out how we will improve support for young victims of crime. The plan has been developed jointly between the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Ministry of Justice, the Department for Children Schools and Families and the Home Office.
	The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority's major reform programme completely overhauled the case working processes. This included the introduction of geographically based teams; a new in-house telephone support service and the development of a new case working model placing greater emphasis on applicant support and focusing resources at the front end of the case-working process.

Wymott Prison: Protest

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reports he has received of the rooftop protest at HM Prison Wymott on 25 February; how many such protests have taken place at HM Prison Wymott in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: For the incident on 25 February I was informed on the same day that it had taken place and was ongoing, and then informed it had ended. For other incidents I am always informed about 'incidents at height', whether inside the establishment or on a rooftop. The seriousness of the incident determines how quickly I am informed. There have been two further rooftop incidents at Wymott since 1 January 2006. These took place on 28 June 2007 and 6 October 2008. Measures are in place to further restrict access to the roof. All three prisoners involved in the incidents are subject to disciplinary procedures.

Young Offenders: Crime Prevention

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what pilot projects are being undertaken by his Department to deter young people from entering the criminal justice system; and what  (a) the cost to date and  (b) current status is of each project.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP), published in July 2008, set out the Government's plans for tackling offending by young people. It detailed our plans for a 'triple track' approach of tough enforcement, non-negotiable help and support, and early intervention and prevention. It also states our ambition to reduce the rate of young people entering the criminal justice system by one fifth by 2020. This is supported by close to 100 million over the next three years, in addition to the existing investment in children's and youth services, to support local authorities in making inroads into youth crime locally.
	In 2008-09, under YCAP, 69 local authorities each received 65,000 to implement a selection of measures set out in the YCAP. These were: Operation Staysafe; Street Based teams; After-Schools patrols; YOT Workers in Custody Suites; Reparation in Leisure Time; YCAP Family Intervention Projects and Think Family.
	As further support, in the current year, funding amounting to 6.5 million has been targeted in 15 local authority areas of high gun, knife, gang and violent crime to help prevent young people becoming engaged in this sort of activity and to prevent poor outcomes in general.
	In addition, the Youth Justice Board are investing 32 million this year to deliver targeted prevention programmes such as youth inclusion programmes (YIPs), youth inclusion and support panels (YISPs) and parenting programmes.
	All of these programmes build on the significant investment committed to other wider prevention programmes which make a contribution to preventing young people's involvement in criminal activity in deprived areas. Key examples of this are the work done to help young people take part in structured positive activities and to improve facilities in deprived areas through the Positive Activities for Young People and Myplace programmes and additional parenting support such as the Parenting Early Intervention programme, family intervention projects and expert parenting practitioners.

Young Offenders: Sentencing

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of sentences handed down to  (a) juveniles and  (b) young adults of each sex from (i) magistrates courts and (ii) crown courts were custodial sentences in each year since 1993; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The available information is shown in the table. Some of the figures can also be found in Table 1.5 of 'Sentencing Statistics 2007', available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	
		
			  Number of persons given custodial sentences( 1)  by gender, court type and age band, 1993 to 2007 
			Male  Female 
			Magistrates court  Crown court  Magistrates court  Crown court 
			 1993  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 48,101 2,102 4,964 148 
			  Young Adults 126,246 12,261 15,588 751 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,051 1,058 69 45 
			  Young Adults 4,860 6,130 162 183 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.3 50.3 1.4 30.4 
			  Young Adults 3.8 50.0 1.0 24.4 
			   
			 1994  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 53,432 2,079 6,320 163 
			  Young Adults 121,483 11,520 15,126 648 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,396 1,165 103 55 
			  Young Adults 5,849 6,270 202 171 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.4 56.0 1.6 33.7 
			  Young Adults 4.8 54.4 1.3 26.4 
			   
			 1995  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 57,839 2,767 6,996 198 
			  Young persons 119,712 11,637 15,392 742 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,680 1,604 114 66 
			  Young Adults 6,524 6,752 238 225 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.4 58.0 1.6 33.3 
			  Young Adults 5.4 58.0 1.5 30.3 
			   
			   
			 1996  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 62,792 3,641 7,901 263 
			  Young Adults 122,891 11,665 16,925 817 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,973 2,300 129 95 
			  Young Adults 6,783 7,422 267 278 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.3 63.2 1.6 36.1 
			  Young Adults 5.5 63.6 1.6 34.0 
			   
			 1997  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 65,127 4,520 9,043 402 
			  Young Adults 126,496 12,633 16,352 978 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,963 2,812 166 142 
			  Young Adults 7,272 7,871 341 301 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.1 62.2 1.8 35.3 
			  Young Adults 5.7 62.3 2.1 30.8 
			   
			 1998  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 71,075 4,421 10,445 353 
			  Young Adults 135,054 12,814 18,256 998 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,294 2,587 221 115 
			  Young Adults 8,191 7,961 489 362 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.0 58.5 2.1 32.6 
			  Young Adults 6.1 62.1 2.7 36.3 
			   
			 1999  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 74,856 4,406 10,543 355 
			  Young Adults 134,660 12,343 17,392 1,017 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,654 2,590 275 134 
			  Young Adults 9,166 7,882 579 384 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.2 58.8 2.6 37.7 
			  Young Adults 6.8 63.9 3.3 37.8 
			   
			 2000  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 76,863 3,707 10,561 349 
			  Young Adults 130,703 12,121 18,202 1,064 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,811 2,157 324 122 
			  Young Adults 9,597 7,727 700 417 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.3 58.2 3.1 35.0 
			  Young Adults 7.3 63.7 3.8 39.2 
			   
			 2001  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 81,020 3,067 11,063 335 
			  Young Adults 128,085 11,834 16,975 1,013 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 5,440 1,707 329 120 
			  Young Adults 9,391 7,491 673 393 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.7 55.7 3.0 35.8 
			  Young Adults 7.3 63.3 4.0 38.8 
			   
			 2002  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 79,790 3,394 10,895 466 
			  Young Adults 128,871 12,043 17,394 1,076 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,910 1,976 340 190 
			  Young Adults 8,770 7,520 622 451 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 6.2 58.2 3.1 40.8 
			  Young Adults 6.8 62.4 3.6 41.9 
			   
			 2003  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 78,292 2,546 11,339 354 
			  Young Adults 132,064 11,301 17,687 1,015 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,362 1,414 287 137 
			  Young Adults 7,854 6,611 596 377 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 5.6 55.5 2.5 38.7 
			  Young Adults 5.9 58.5 3.4 37.1 
			   
			 2004  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 80,672 2,741 12,476 299 
			  Young Adults 126,530 11,202 17,624 1,043 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,326 1,555 339 105 
			  Young Adults 7,171 6,646 478 341 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 5.4 56.7 2.7 35.1 
			  Young Adults 5.7 59.3 2.7 32.7 
			   
			 2005  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 80,087 2,378 13,420 318 
			  Young Adults 116,149 11,153 17,709 1,040 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,089 1,426 375 128 
			  Young Adults 7,234 6,684 540 411 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 5.1 60.0 2.8 40.3 
			  Young Adults 6.2 59.9 3.0 39.5 
			   
			 2006  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 77,766 2,370 13,437 233 
			  Young Adults 111,825 11,835 17,989 1,045 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 4,209 1,521 363 90 
			  Young Adults 8,971 7,815 762 536 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 5.4 64.2 2.7 38.6 
			  Young Adults 8.0 66.0 4.2 51.3 
			 2007  Sentenced 
			  Juveniles 80,153 2,466 14,494 274 
			  Young Adults 107,921 12,849 18,507 999 
			   Custodial sentences 
			  Juveniles 3,865 1,497 340 129 
			  Young Adults 8,973 9,111 752 562 
			   Proportion (%) 
			  Juveniles 4.8 60.7 2.3 47.1 
			  Young Adults 8.3 70.9 4.1 56.3 
			 (1) custodial sentences include suspended sentences and fully suspended sentences. A new suspended sentence order introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 came into force on 4 April 2005 and replaces the previous fully suspended sentences. Suspended sentences apply only to persons aged 18 and over .  Notes: The statistics given are on a principal offence basis. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems.  Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice

Young People: Remand in Custody

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many juveniles were detained overnight in police cells in the last year for which figures are available.

David Hanson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 361W.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Lighting: Health Hazards

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has received reports on potential  (a) health and  (b) other hazards caused by environmentally-friendly light bulbs.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Some support groups for people with certain light sensitive skin, autoimmune and neurological conditions have raised concerns that some low energy light bulbs, particularly compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), could aggravate light sensitivity symptoms.
	The Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises the Department on scientific matters concerning optical radiation including low energy light bulbs. The HPA tested a sample of CFL light bulbs and found that some emitted ultraviolet radiation which could, under certain conditions, expose people above international guidelines. As a result of its findings the HPA issued precautionary advice on 9 October 2008 to the general public concerning the use of open CFLs in close-working situations. The HPA's advice can be found at:
	ixwww.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebHPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1223445516605?p=1153822623869
	The HPA's research was considered alongside other available evidence to inform a report by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). SCENIHR's Opinion on light sensitivity can be found at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/scenihr_opinions_en.htm
	Nowadays CFLs each contain up to around four milligrams of mercury. The HPA advise that the mercury cannot escape from an intact lamp and, even if the lamp should be broken, the very small amount of mercury contained in a single, modern CFL is most unlikely to cause any harm. The HPA's advice on disposal of CFLs can be found at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAwebHPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1207293983993?p=1158313435037
	The Department is continuing to work with patient groups, clinicians and the lighting industry to keep the health issues under review.

Tree Felling: Indonesia and Brazil

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps he has taken to assist the government of  (a) Indonesia and  (b) Brazil to reduce levels of deforestation in those countries.

Joan Ruddock: We are working closely with Indonesia and Brazil to include forestry in a future climate change agreement and were pleased with their association with the Poznan Forestry Statement that pledged early action on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation. More specifically:
	 (a) A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Indonesia in late 2008 for co-operation on Climate Change and the Environment, renewing earlier commitments to work together to address deforestation. The first Working Group meeting is expected to take place in London in early summer. The UK has long supported action to improve forest governance through the work of the Department for International Development's Multi-stakeholder Forestry Programme and work to address demand side measures. The UK is working within the EU to negotiate an Indonesia-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Partnership Agreement.
	The UK is also providing expertise to help the Government of Indonesia prepare for the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December. The support includes the appointment of a specialist assigned to the British embassy to assist with climate change work, including Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).
	 (b) Co-operation with Brazil on forestry issues takes place through the Working Group on Climate Change and the High Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development through which we are supporting a number of projects. The next Working Group meetings are expected to take place in Brazil in mid-March 2009.
	Of particular note is scientific co-operation on the development of joint UK-Brazil satellite monitoring, beginning with the announcement of the Amazonia-I satellite and camera to be launched in 2011. DEFRA has funded a workshop in Brazil for UK and Brazilian satellite monitoring experts to further develop this co-operation. DEFRA is also supporting the development of state level plans to combat deforestation in the Amazon, working closely with the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment.
	Last year Brazil also launched a new fund aimed at supporting sustainable development of the forest called the Amazon Fund. The Department for International Development is providing support to the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) on the management of this fund.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which external consultant he has appointed to review his Department's management of its contract with Eaga for the provision of the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: The Department has appointed Procuritas to carry out this work with eaga plc.

Warm Front Scheme: Complaints

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department takes to monitor complaints about the operation of the Warm Front scheme.

Mike O'Brien: Eaga, which manages the scheme on DECC's behalf, records and classifies all complaints received about Warm Front.
	DECC independently monitors complaints made directly to the Department, and also uses the independent quality assessor: White Young Green, to perform regular surveys of customer experiences.
	The National Audit Office recently reported that complaints to the scheme have remained relatively static with 0.5 per cent. of cases upheld or five in every 1,000, while the overall customer satisfaction rate was quoted at 86 per cent. with 6 per cent. of customers dissatisfied.

TREASURY

Cheques

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the banking industry on the time taken for clearance of cheques; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Payment Systems Task Force, chaired by the Office of Fair Trading, was established in 2004 to resolve competition, efficiency and incentive issues in UK payment systems. It comprised banking industry, retail, consumer and Government representatives.
	On 14 November 2006 the task force announced significant changes to speed up the slowest clearers of cheques in the UK. From November 2007, customers have been guaranteed that after paying a cheque into a bank or building society they will be able to start earning interest no later than two working days; to be able to withdraw against the cheque no later than four working days after it is deposited into a current account or six if deposited into a savings account.

Cheques

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to review the provisions of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 and the Cheques Acts of 1957 and 1992 in respect of the use of cheques as a method of payment.

Ian Pearson: With respect to the use of cheques as a method of payment, the Government have no current plans to review the above-mentioned Acts.

Departmental Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals are employed by his Department.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury currently employs 29 EU foreign nationals and 14 non-EU foreign nationals. All HMT appointments are carried out in line with our selection processes and procedures and taking into account current employment legislation.

EU Grants and Loans

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that  (a) European Regional Development Fund and  (b) other European grant aid programmes are used to greatest effect in (i) the UK and (ii) the region of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Angela Eagle: Maximising the use of European Structural Funds is a matter for the managing authorities responsible for each programme. For the UK, the managing authorities for European Regional Development Funds and European Social Funds are Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions respectively in England, and the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

European Investment Bank

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which body is responsible for supervising and directing the activities of the European Investment Bank; what the financial obligations are of the participant nations; and whether the necessary financial contributions have been made by each participant nation.

Ian Pearson: The bank's main independent decision-making bodies are the Board of Governors (usually the Finance Ministers of the member states) and the Board of Directors (28 members representing each member state and the European Commission). The EIB is internally governed by the Management Committee (the President of the EIB and eight Vice Presidents) and the Audit Committee (three members and three observers appointed by the Board of Governors).
	Further information on the EIB's finances and the capital contributions of member states can be found at:
	http://www/eib.org

Expert Liaison Group

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the Expert Liaison Group.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 19 March 2009
	The Expert Liaison Group (ELG) is a consultative group that was set up by the Economic Secretary on 9 October 2008 to work with the Government to help prepare secondary legislation for the special resolution regime (SRR) and keep SRR powers and regulations under review, as practices in the financial markets develop over time.
	I committed in the House of Parliament on 18 November that the Government will ask the Banking Liaison Panel whether a summary of their minutes will be made available. Following this, at the meeting of 15 December the Expert Liaison Group agreed to summaries of their meetings being available. On this basis a formal summary of the meetings of the ELG that took place on 15 December and 23 January will be published on HM Treasury's website.
	The Banking Liaison Panel (BLP) is the statutory replacement for the ELG and following its first meeting, the Government will make a statement on how it will communicate the work of the BLP. In addition the Government have already committed to publishing a response to the consultation replies to HM Treasury's consultation document on safeguards for partial transfers published on 6 November 2008.

Fossil Fuels: Government Assistance

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal incentives are available for fossil fuel production and investment.

Angela Eagle: The North sea fiscal regime, which acts to ensure a fair return for the UK taxpayer by imposing a higher tax rate on the profits derived from oil and gas production, also contains a number of incentives for investment in the oil and gas sector. Certain types of fossil fuel investment expenditure are also eligible for mineral extraction allowances.

Land: Prices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Valuation Office Agency made of the average value of a hectare of land in each of the last 20 quarters.

Stephen Timms: During the last five years the VOA has published twice yearly the VOA Property Market Report. The report gives opinions of value each year, as at 1 January and 1 July, for agricultural land, and for land for development for residential and industrial use.
	The reports for this period are available to view on the VOA website at:
	www.voa.gov.uk/publications

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 28 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms Agnes Kaddedu-Gedeun.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.

National Insurance Contributions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of additional revenue that would have been raised from  (a) employees and  (b) employers by abolishing the upper limit on the income assessed for national insurance contributions in 2008-09.

Stephen Timms: The yield from removing the upper earnings limit for employees Class 1 National Insurance contributions would be around 11 billion for 2009-10. This estimate also includes the yield from the consequent increase in the upper profit limit for Class 4 contributions paid by the self employed. There is no upper limit for employer contributions.
	This figure excludes any estimate of behavioural effects which could be significant given the scale of the change. The estimate is consistent with pre-Budget report 2008 assumptions and assumes that the NHS allocation contribution rates are unchanged.

Pensions: Misrepresentation

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of people who have been mis-sold endowment policies but have not pursued the matter within the time limit; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Financial Ombudsman Service is responsible for assessing consumer complaints against financial services firms and awarding redress where appropriate. It is not possible to make an accurate assessment of the overall extent of mis-selling without considering the specific circumstances of individual cases.

Public Opinion

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies have incurred in each year since 1997 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; what surveys were commissioned; and what the purpose of each was.

Angela Eagle: For information on independent reviews commissioned by the Treasury, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1392W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban). The Debt Management Office has no record of having undertaken any market research. The Office of Government Commerce does not hold a central record of market research and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Revenue and Customs: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff worked at HM Revenue and Customs office in Chorley in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The headcount number of staff in post in the HM Revenue and Customs office at Chorley over the last five years, with the full-time equivalent (FTE) figure, was:
	
		
			   Headcount  Full- time equivalent 
			 1 April 2005 88 80.6 
			 1 April 2006 84 77 
			 1 April 2007 81 71.65 
			 1 April 2008 78 69.49 
			 1 March 2009 66 56.78 
		
	
	The 1 March 2009 figure given is the most up to date available.

Revenue and Customs: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the decision to keep open the HM Revenue and Customs office in Chorley was rescinded in February 2008.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 20 March 2009
	 As part of the review of HMRC offices in the Blackpool/Preston urban centre HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published a proposal to retain its office in Chorley in May 2007.
	During the period of feasibility work after the proposals were published HMRC business units, including Local Compliance, revisited their plans for delivering their long-term operations and decided that they could operate more effectively by consolidating elsewhere. This work also showed that staff in Chorley could be more effectively accommodated in larger teams in other offices. The final decision to withdraw business operations, except Enquiry Centre services, from Chorley was announced in February 2008.

Revenue and Customs: Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on staff surveys in each of the last five years; and which organisation carried out each such survey.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs has conducted eight surveys following its creation.
	The cost breakdown by financial year excluding VAT is:
	
		
			
			 2005-06 36,325 
			 2006-07 88,497 
			 2007-08 62,626 
			 2008-09 92,452 
		
	
	From 2005-06 to 2007-08 the surveys were conducted twice yearly by HMRC. A sample of staff were surveyed in-house with an external research agency (BMRB) contracted to deliver the analysis and reporting of the survey.
	In late 2008, ORC were appointed by the Cabinet Office as the external provider to deliver a civil service wide pilot survey across nine Government Departments which involved a census of HMRC staff.

Tax Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1638-39W, on tax credit, what estimate he has made of the number of claimants who would have their tax credit award reduced to zero in each scenario in each of the next six years.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 332W.

Taxation: EU Action

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will have discussions with his EU counterparts on steps to ensure that products of the same type sold in EU member states are subject to the same tax treatment in all member states; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Within the EU, the structure and rates of specific taxes are generally a matter for member states, consistent with the principle of subsidiarity. In relation to VAT, rules on some aspects of tax structure and minimum rates of taxation have been agreed by the Council of Ministers by unanimity with a view to ensuring the smooth functioning of the Single Market, in line with the provisions of article 93 of the treaty establishing the European Community. This includes the principle that the common system of VAT should, even if rates and exemptions are not fully harmonised, result in neutrality in competition, such that within the territory of each member state similar goods and services bear the same tax burden.

VAT: Children's Car Seats

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to review the rate of value added tax charged on plug-in children's car seats; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Children's car seats, including plug-in car seats, have been subject to the reduced VAT rate of 5 per cent. since 12 May 2001. This is the lowest rate possible under EU VAT agreements, signed by successive Governments.
	Children's car seat bases are subject to the standard rate of VAT. All taxes are kept under review and changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Animal Experiments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funds his Department has allocated to research on and development of alternatives to animal testing since 1997.

David Lammy: Between 2001 and 2007/08 the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) provided 11,348,000 to support research into the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research through response mode funding and strategic programmes. Figures are not available prior to 2001. In addition, these Research Councils fund the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), established in 2004. Between 2004/05 and 2007/08 the NC3Rs received 5,525,000 from the Research Councils as well as 660,000 funding from the Home Office. The two Research Councils have allocated 12,804,000 to the NC3Rs for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 and the Department has provided an additional direct grant of 100,000.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department settled within 10 days of receipt in the last four months.

Si�n Simon: The percentage of invoices from suppliers settled by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills within 10-days of receipt, in the last four months, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 November 2008 90 
			 December 2008 96 
			 January 2009 91 
			 February 2009 96

Foreign Students: USA

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 544-45W, on foreign students: USA, when the arrangements on grants for English-domiciled students travelling to the United States to study were introduced.

David Lammy: The Education Act 1962 introduced the mandatory awards system for higher education. The University and Other Awards Regulations 1962 made under the Act gave local education authorities discretion to make payments
	to cover expenditure necessarily incurred by an award holder on travel outside the United Kingdom, for the purpose of attending his university or establishment of further education or otherwise for the purposes of his studies.

Gifted Children: Higher Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of young people identified as gifted and talented went on to higher education in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Government remain committed to widening participation in higher education and to securing fair access for gifted and talented students. It is an economic as well as a social imperative that everyone who can benefit from higher education has the opportunity to do so. Widening participation is about spotting and nurturing talent, with schools, colleges and universities working together to ensure that all those with the potential and merit to benefit from higher education are able to do so.
	The gifted and talented flag was not introduced into the National Pupil Database until 2006 and we do not yet have data on HE destinations that can be linked to this flag.
	The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) catered for the national top 5 per cent. of 11 to 19-year-olds from 2002 to 2007. It has now been replaced by the Young Gifted and Talented (YG and T) Learner Academy.
	NAGTY's 2006 Student Exit Survey Questionnaire showed that, of those completing the questionnaire:
	87 per cent. said they went straight on to continue their education at university
	8 per cent. were taking a gap year before going into higher education.

Higher Education

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  which higher education institutions are in risk category  (a) 1 and  (b) 2;
	(2)  if he will publish his most recent risk assessments relating to institutions in the university sector.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. member to the reply given on 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 905w.

Higher Education: Admissions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many first-time male entrants to higher education first degree courses there were in each year since 1998.

David Lammy: The latest available information is shown in the table. Figures refer to male entrants whose highest qualification on entry was below higher education level. Although this excludes entrants who already hold a HE qualification, this does not exclude those who have attended HE in the past, but not received a qualification.
	
		
			  Male first-time( 1)  entrants( 2)  to first degree courses, UK higher education institutions, academic years 1998/99 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  Male entrants 
			 1998/99 146,355 
			 1999/2000 143,290 
			 2000/01 141,515 
			 2001/02 146,825 
			 2002/03 152,360 
			 2003/04 154,465 
			 2004/05 152,395 
			 2005/06 161,295 
			 2006/07 155,275 
			 2007/08 162,060 
			 (1 )Covers entrants whose highest qualification on entry was below HE level. This does not exclude those who may have attended HE in the past without gaining a qualification. Includes entrants with a missing highest qualification on entry. (2 )Covers entrants of all domiciles to both full-time and part-time first degree courses.  Note: Figures are based on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Low Impact Building Innovation Platform

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been allocated to the Low Impact Building Innovation Platform in each year since it was established.

David Lammy: holding answer 4 March 2009
	The Technology Strategy Board, funded through the Department's innovation budget, supports the low impact building innovation platform. The low impact building platform was launched in May 2008 with an initial budget of 30 million over three years. Following the Prime Minister's announcement on 28 January of the retrofit for the future challenge, a further 10 million was added to the budget giving a total of 40 million.
	In financial year 2008-09 3.3 million has been committed to projects under the platform. In the summer of 2009 three funding schemes totalling 24 million will be opened under the platform: Retrofit for the future10 million; Demonstrator monitoring10 million; and design and decision tools4 million. It is expected that the bulk of these funds will be committed to projects by the end of financial year 2009/10. The remaining funds from the 40 million budget are expected to be committed in financial year 2010-11 on other programme activities.

Mathematics: Research

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding was allocated by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to the mathematical sciences research programme in each year since 2001; and what allocations it has made to the programme for future years.

David Lammy: Expenditure by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through its mathematical sciences research programme since 2001 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure on Maths programme 
			   000 
			 2001-02 6,615 
			 2002-03 7,751 
			 2003-04 7,681 
			 2004-05 8,778 
			 2005-06 10,138 
			 2006-07 11,699 
			 2007-08 14,331 
		
	
	These figures are for research and do not cover studentships or fellowships. For the following three years, expenditure is forecast to be:
	
		
			  Expenditure on Maths programme 
			   000 
			 2008-09 17,956 
			 2009-10 16,499 
			 2010-11 16,622 
		
	
	These figures include expenditure on existing grants and expenditure arising from new grants. In 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 EPSRC expects to commit 16 million, 14 million, and 14 million respectively to new grants through the mathematical sciences programme.
	Expenditure on these grants will take place over a number of years.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter of 11 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr I Muhammad.

Si�n Simon: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills replied to this letter on 23 March 2009.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department has engaged any  (a) actors,  (b) musicians and  (c) other performers to support its initiatives over the last five years.

Si�n Simon: The Department's record/financial systems are not able to identify this information within disproportionate cost threshold.

Science: Research

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps he has taken to promote scientific research in universities in  (a) England,  (b) the North East and  (c) Tees Valley district.

David Lammy: Government investment in science and research is at record levels, and will reach just under 6 billion by 2010-11. Much of this funding is allocated to universities.
	This takes Government support for the UK's research base to its highest ever level and will enable the UK to maintain its leading position in research excellence, as well as helping to build a stronger economy.
	Funding is allocated on the basis of research excellence, not geographical location.
	In 2006-07, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) recurrent research grants and Research Council grants to universities in England totalled 2.3 billion, of which 97 million went to universities in the north-east.
	 Source
	Higher Education Statistics Agency, Resources of Higher Education Institutions 2006-07)

Students

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of university students are UK nationals;
	(2)  what percentage of undergraduate places on science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses in universities in England are filled by UK nationals.

David Lammy: Nationality is not a compulsory return on the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. As domicile is compulsory (and is therefore included for all students), this has been provided as an alternative.
	In the 2007/08 academic year, 85 per cent. of enrolments on higher education courses at English higher education institutions were UK domiciled.
	The following table shows the percentage of undergraduate enrolments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses who were UK domiciled.
	
		
			  Undergraduate enrolments( 1)  on science, technology, engineering and mathematics( 2)  courses by domicile, English higher education institutions, academic year 2007/08 
			  Subject of study  Percentage UK domiciled 
			 Medicine and dentistry 91 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 95 
			 Biological sciences 94 
			 Veterinary science 95 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 93 
			 Physical sciences 94 
			 Mathematical sciences 86 
			 Computer science 89 
			 Engineering and technology 78 
			 Architecture, building  planning 89 
			 (1 )Covers undergraduate enrolments to both full-time and part-time courses. (2 )The subjects listed in the table are what the Department define as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Students: Fees

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will consult the Welsh Assembly Government as part of the review of the cap on tuition fees.

David Lammy: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The review will be independent of the Government, but we would expect it to consult widely both within the higher education sector, and outside, before delivering its findings.
	There was a commitment to Parliament to review the cap on tuition fees after the first group of students who paid variable fees completed their degrees. As such, the review cannot start before this summer.

Students: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of UK domiciled full-time students enrolled on  (a) first-degree and  (b) other degree courses at an English higher education institution who left their course for financial reasons in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the following table. Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
	
		
			  UK domiciled full-time first degree and other undergraduate enrolments who left their course having neither completed nor transferred and, of this group, those who left for financial reasons. English higher education institutions( 1)  academic years 1998/99 to 2007/08 
			   First Degree  Other UG 
			Of which:   Of which: 
			  Academic year  Total who left having neither completed nor transferred  Left for financial reasons  Total who left having neither completed nor transferred  Left for financial reasons 
			 1998/99 25,815 835 7,125 190 
			 1999/2000 23,365 760 6,155 160 
			 2000/01 22,565 690 5,870 170 
			 2001/02 23,340 570 6,525 125 
			 2002/03 24,540 660 6,200 125 
			 2003/04 25,035 685 5,990 140 
			 2004/05 25,265 700 6,015 180 
			 2005/06 24,820 730 6,290 150 
			 2006/07 26,145 505 6,125 115 
			 2007/08 28,495 510 6,185 100 
			 (1) Figures exclude the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of undergraduate study over the time series.  Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	The reason for leaving information on the HESA Student Record should be treated with some caution, because the 'Other personal reasons and dropped out' and 'Other' fields are used extensively. Institutions are not always able to record the precise reason for leaving. Furthermore, HESA allows only one reason for withdrawal to be recorded, however it is likely that many students leave for a combination of reasons.

Students: Loans

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many graduates who are earning between 15,000 and 30,000 are making student loan repayments.

David Lammy: In tax year 2006-07, the most recent year for which published data were available, 324,900 English-domiciled borrowers with earnings between 15,000 and 30,000 were repaying their income contingent student loans.
	This figure is not comparable with figures published in the Student Loans Statistical First Release because it is calculated on a tax year basis whereas the SFR figures are calculated on a financial year basis.

Students: Loans

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what rates of interest have been charged to students who have loans with the Student Loans Company over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The interest rates applicable to student loans for the last five academic years are as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Income contingent repayment loans  Mortgage-style loans 
			 2004/05 2.6 2.6 
			 2005/06 3.2 3.2 
			 2006/07 2.4 2.4 
			 2007/08 4.8 4.8 
			
			 2008/09 (1)3.8 3.8 
			  (2)3.0  
			  (3)2.5  
			  (4)2.0  
			  (5)1.5  
			 (1) From 1 September 2008 (2) From 5 December 2008 (3) From 9 January 2009 (4) From 6 February 2009 (5) From 6 March 2009 
		
	
	The interest rate to be charged on mortgage-style student loans, i.e. those taken out before 1 September 1998, is set out in the Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 and the Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1998, which provide for a link to the Retail Price Index (RPI). Specifically, the interest rate for an academic year is the annual movement in the RPI for the year to the previous March. Therefore, the interest rate of 3.8 per cent. for the 2008/09 academic year reflects movements in the RPI for the year to March 2008.
	The legislative provisions for Income Contingent Repayment student loans, i.e. those taken out since 1 September 1998, also provide a link to the RPI. However, once set each September, the rate of interest must not exceed 1 per cent. above the highest of the base rates of a specified number of banks (the 'low' interest cap). The low interest cap was triggered in December 2008 when the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England reduced the bank base rate 'in year' to 2 per cent. and further reduced it in January, February and March of 2009.

Youth at Risk

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills in which universities the two-year student leadership pilot being run by Youth at Risk is operating; and how much his Department has spent on the pilot.

David Lammy: The two-year pilot Student Leadership Programme run by Youth at Risk is operating in London Metropolitan university, the university of Bedfordshire and Thames Valley university. The project has been running since July 2008 and so far DIUS has provided 153,000 of funding.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Bankruptcy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people were declared bankrupt in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Patrick McFadden: Table 1 as follows shows the number of bankruptcy orders recorded in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley and Durham, and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year from 2000 to 2007.
	
		
			  Table: 1 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 England 17,514 19,950 20,870 24,805 32,182 43,023 57,481 59,114 
			 North East 973 1,126 1,203 1,294 1,655 2,154 3,011 3,430 
			 Tees Valley and Durham 409 487 510 496 665 734 1,082 1,232 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 17 23 35 33 41 53 57 78 
			  Note: 1. The geographic system used to classify areas does not identify Tees Valley separately from Durham. 2. Regional figures are not yet available for 2008, nor for years prior to 2000. 3. Classifying insolvent individuals into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the person provides. 4. Inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the above table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007.

British Brands Group

David Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have met the (i) British Brands Group and (ii) Anti-Counterfeiting Group in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 March 2009
	This Department is always willing to meet business organisations to discuss the implications of Government policy on the businesses they represent, but does not keep comprehensive records of all such meetings. The British Brands Group and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group have met officials a number times over the last five years to discuss a range of issues affecting their members, including implementation of the unfair commercial practices directive, amendments to Part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Competition Commission's report on groceries. The British Brands Group also had a meeting with a Special Adviser. I recently took part in the launch of the British Branch exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons.

Construction: Credit Insurance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will take steps to  (a) increase the availability and  (b) reduce the cost of credit insurance, with particular reference to firms in the construction sector.

Ian Pearson: This Department is providing a range of support to industry, including the construction sector to help companies during the current recession. For more information see:
	http://www.realhelpnow.gov.uk/

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) capital expenditure and  (b) maintenance and running costs for standby diesel generators for backup electricity on the departmental estate in each year since March 1997.

Patrick McFadden: Since its formation on 28 June 2007, this Department has not purchased any new diesel generators. Since this date, the Department has spent 55,500 on maintenance and running costs, including diesel, for the standby generators on our central London estate.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was paid in sick pay to staff  (a) his Department and its predecessor,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which his Department has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the annual staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not at present routinely calculate the annual cost of sickness absence. As this would involve manually investigating employee sickness records and pay details on an individual basis, the cost of doing this would be disproportionate to the benefit to be derived.
	Information on the cost of sickness absence for the civil service as a whole for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006-07 can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	I have asked the Chief Executives of the Insolvency and Companies House to respond to the hon. Member directly.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 24 March 2009:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The estimated cost of sick pay paid to Companies House staff and the proportion of the annual staffing expenditure this represented in each of the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost of sick pay ( estimated)  Staffing expenditure (Percentage estimated) 
			 2003-04 874,411 4.08 
			 2004-05 760,130 3.50 
			 2005-06 853,634 3.93 
			 2006-07 956,184 4.04 
			 2007-08 830,838 3.69 
		
	
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 24( ) March 2009:
	The Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly in respect of your question (2007/3334) asking how much was paid in sick pay to staff in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the annual staffing expenditure this represented for each of those years.
	I regret to inform you that we are unable to supply you with data for the questions raised. The data required is held in several different sources and to gather this information would on this occasion entail a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department spent on staff surveys in each of the last five years; and which company was contracted to conduct each such survey.

Patrick McFadden: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			   Contractor  Cost () 
			 2004-05 Maven Management Ltd. 40,543.78 
			 2005-06 Maven Management Ltd. 23,770.00 
			 2006-07 ORC International Ltd. 21,017.78 
			 2007-08 ORC International Ltd. 23,751.78 
			 2008-09 ORC International Ltd. 22,204.67

Flexible Working: Parents

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the cost to small businesses of extending flexible working to parents of children up to the age of 16 years.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 19 March 2009
	The Department estimates the cost of extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of older children to entail an average cost of 16 per micro business (one to nine employees) and 138 per small business (10 to 49 employees).
	More detailed estimates of costs and benefits to business are contained in the final impact assessment accompanying the government response to the consultation on implementing the recommendations of the Walsh Review into flexible working which is due to be published shortly.
	The business benefits of the policy are also set out in the final impact assessment. Overall the benefits exceed the costs.

Freight: Bankruptcy

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of freight transport businesses declared bankrupt in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 19 March 2009
	 The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has made no estimate of the number of freight transport businesses declared bankrupt in each of the last five years.
	Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt, whereas registered companies are the subject of liquidation (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL)).
	The information held by the Insolvency Service on self-employed bankruptcies and company liquidations is not sufficiently detailed to identify those in the freight transport industry.
	Numbers are available for the Transport, Storage and Communication sector as a whole (which contains freight transport) from Q3 2007 in England and Wales. These are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Transport, storage and communication England and Wales 
			   Self-employed bankruptcies  Compulsory liquidations  Creditors' voluntary liquidations 
			  2007
			 Q3 229 84 96 
			 Q4 213 92 79 
			 
			  2008
			 Q1 279 83 101 
			 Q2 264 92 102 
			 Q3 319 94 124 
			 Q4 n/a n/a 145 
			 n/a = Not yet available.

Manufacturing Industries

David Crausby: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to assist manufacturing industry in the North West.

Ian Pearson: The Government have acted to help industry through the current economic downturn, by the measures they have taken to boost capital and liquidity in the market and this will help manufacturers in the North West. BERR is providing a range of support to industry. For more information see:
	http://www.realhelpnow.gov.uk/
	The manufacturing strategy launched in September is providing 150 million of support for UK manufacturing, helping manufacturers to: seize the opportunities of the low carbon economy; significantly increase apprenticeships; and take advantage of new markets in the global economy.
	The Northwest Regional Development Agency continues to deliver specific support to the industry in the North West through its regional cluster and sector bodies, as well as through business link North West. A 10 million programme is in place to help new and high growth businesses reach their potential, and work is currently underway on a North West regional manufacturing strategy and action plan. We are also supporting manufacturing with programmes such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which since April 2008 has helped over 1,200 companies in the North West to achieve cost savings and increased business worth over 47 million.

Minimum Wage

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will take steps to increase the capacity of the national minimum wage customer responsive outreach team.

Patrick McFadden: The Government take awareness and enforcement of the minimum wage seriously, extra resources have gone into both in recent years. HM Revenue and Customs employ national minimum wage customer responsive outreach officers who are embedded in compliances teams across the country. The officers play an important role in a wider publicity and educational activities to raise awareness of the national minimum wage. There are no plans to increase the capacity of this team as current demand is being met.

Minimum Wage

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to reduce levels of non-compliance with national minimum wage legislation in addition to those proposed in relation to enforcement penalties.

Patrick McFadden: The new penalties and other measures included in the Employment Act 2008 in relation to national minimum wage will bring about significant improvements to the enforcement regime. These measures will come into force on 6 April 2009.
	The Government continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the enforcement regime and will undertake an assessment of their impact of the changes once the effects are clear.

Minimum Wage

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received from  (a) tourism industry bodies and  (b) others on the national minimum wage; and whether he plans to increase the level of the national minimum wage in 2009.

Patrick McFadden: I have received no representations from the tourism industry specifically on the national minimum wage (NMW). A number of representations on the NMW are however made each year to the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC), who carry out a wide ranging consultation as part of their preparation in making their recommendations to Government on the minimum wage, including what the rates should be.
	The Low Pay Commission has agreed to make their recommendations to Government by 1 May. Shortly after this the Government will respond to these recommendations.

Public Sector: Redundancy

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) redundancies,  (b) retirements and  (c) redundancy notices his Department has been notified of by public sector organisations in Wales in each week since 1 January 2009; and what estimate he has made of the total number of such (i) redundancies, (ii) retirements and (iii) redundancy notices in each week.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 19 March 2009
	Employers who propose to make 20 or more redundancies at one establishment within a 90 day period are required to notify the Secretary of State of the proposal under provisions contained in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. There is no requirement for notification of employees who retire.
	One notice of proposed redundancies from a public sector organisation in Wales has been received since 1 January 2009 to date. The employer is proposing 304 redundancies at various establishments. Estimates of the total redundancies are not made as the employer provides that information when notifying his proposals.

Regional Development Agencies: Meetings

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance his Department provides to regional development agencies on the publication of  (a) agendas and  (b) minutes of their meetings.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 18 March 2009
	 All RDAs publish documents in line with the Information Commissioner's model publication scheme drawn up under the Freedom of Information Act. The model scheme includes publishing requirements relating to management board meetings and similar meetings where decisions are made about the provision of services.

Royal Mail: Reorganisation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with private sector companies on the future ownership and management of Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	 The Department and our advisers have had discussions in recent weeks with a number of potential partners with experience of transforming a major business who are interested in entering into partnership with Royal Mail.
	At this stage of the process only TNT has made their interest public. For commercial confidentiality reasons it would not be appropriate to reveal details on the nature of these discussions or who else wishes to explore the possibility of entering into a partnership with Royal Mail.

Royal Mail: Reorganisation

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which postal operators have expressed interest in forming a strategic partnership with Royal Mail to date.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	Government have received a number of expressions of interest regarding a partnership with Royal Mail. At this stage of the process only TNT has made their interest public. For commercial confidentiality reasons it would not be appropriate to reveal details on who else wishes to explore the possibility of entering into a partnership with Royal Mail.

Taxation: Small Businesses

Mark Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  when businesses will be entitled to apply for the Small Business Finance Scheme;
	(2)  when he expects the first payments to be made under the Small Business Finance Scheme.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 15 December 2008
	The Small Business Finance scheme announced in the pre-Budget report was launched as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee on 14 January 2009 and is available from 23 approved lenders including all the main UK high street banks.
	The first payments have already been issued and thus far around 400 loans worth more than 40 million have been offered or in progress.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Child Minding

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of registered childminders are on  (a) the Early Years Register and  (b) the Ofsted Childcare Register.

Beverley Hughes: These are matters for Ofsted. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and copies of her replies have been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 16 March 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply. You will be aware that people can apply to join one register or both registers at the same time.
	The latest set of available figures, published on 13 March, show that there were 61,929 registered childminders at the 31 December 2008. At that time, 61,428 (99%) were on the Early years Register and 61,556 (99%) were on the Ofsted Childcare Register. Since not all providers inform Ofsted that they have ceased provision, these numbers are likely to be higher than the actual number of active childminders.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department has published for parents on protecting children from harm arising from use of the internet.

Beverley Hughes: In partnership with Childnet International, the department has published a range of guidance and resources for parents under the Know It All brand to promote safe and positive use of the internet. This award-winning family of products has so far been distributed to over one million parents in England.
	In addition we have published comprehensive online guidance on both departmental websites and those of our partners. We are currently updating guidance on social networking websites and have established a public awareness working group as part of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety to further promote the importance of internet safety to families.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on implementation of the recommendations of the Byron review, Safer children in a digital world.

Beverley Hughes: In September 2008 the Government launches the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Safety (UKCCIS) as part of its commitment to implement the recommendations of the Byron review. The Council consists of over 100 organisations from across industry, government, law enforcement and the third sector. An Executive Board to the Council has been appointed which has agreed the immediate priority activities and established a number of working groups to draw together expertise and assist in the implementation of the report.
	The Council will publish the first ever Child Internet Safety Strategy later this year to provide an overview of how the Byron recommendations will be met. Significant progress has already been made on a number of specific recommendations including the publication of new advice to parents and teachers, commissioning research to develop the evidence base for policy making and providing support for initiatives to reduce cyber-bullying and promote European Safer Internet Day.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on the development of the child internet safety strategy.

Beverley Hughes: The Government published their Byron Review Action Plan in June 2008 which outlined how we will implement all the recommendations contained in Dr. Byron's Report. At the first meeting of the Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) in December 2008, the board agreed the immediate priorities for UKCCIS activity.
	At its most recent meeting on 10 March, the board agreed that the Child Internet Safety strategy should be published in the autumn and following extensive consultation with stakeholders.
	This will be taken forward through a number of recently set up UKCCIS working groups.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions the UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) has met; how much his Department has spent on UKCCIS; and how much is planned to be spent on UKCCIS in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Jim Knight: The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) was launched in September 2008. Since then the Executive Board to the Council has met twicein December 2008 and March 2009. Four working groups have been established and will meet shortly. These meetings will be supported by online discussions and other smaller gatherings of council members to look at specific issues. The council as a whole will meet on an annual basis at its summit to review progress and agree forward work.
	The Government allocated 300,000 to support the activity of UKCCIS for 2008-09, and 450,000 for 2009-10. This does not include the cost of officials working within the UKCCIS secretariat or the delivery of Dr. Byron's recommendations which will rely on building digital safety into planned activities and services that are already funded, such as 9 million on a safety awareness campaign for children that will include internet safety.
	The budget for 2010-11 is yet to be decided.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what date the Child Internet Safety Summit will be held.

Beverley Hughes: On March 10, the Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, made up of representation from across Government, industry, law enforcement and the third sector, agreed that the Child Internet Safety Summit should take place in the autumn.
	The Government expect to announce the exact date shortly.

Children: Internet

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on how many occasions the Executive Board of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety has met; and if he will place a copy of the minutes of each meeting in the Library.

Beverley Hughes: The Executive Board of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety has met twice. The first meeting was on 9 December 2008 and the most recent was 10 March 2009. The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for 9 June.
	Meeting notes from all Board meetings are published online on the UKCCIS website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukccis/management.shtml.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he and the Secretary of State for Health expect revisions to the guidance to and systems of accident and emergency departments to be made.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government will produce a detailed action plan in response to the recommendations in Lord Laming's report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Reportincluding that referring to accident and emergency departmentsby the end of April.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to page 16 of The Protection of Children in England: a progress report, HC330, what formalised and explicit performance indicators are planned to be introduced for primary care trusts.

Ann Keen: I have been asked to reply.
	This will be addressed in the detailed action plan in response to the recommendations in Lord Laming's report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report that the Government have promised by the end of April.

Children's Centres: Sunderland

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what expenditure his Department incurred on children's centres in the city of Sunderland in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs), the forerunner of Sure Start children's centres were introduced in 1999-2000. Details of expenditure in Sunderland on SSLPs and children's centres since that time, which totals 45.4 million, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Sunderland children's centre and SSLP expenditure 
			   
			  Financial year  Children's centre revenue expenditure  Children's centre capital expenditure  SSLP revenue expenditure  SSLP capital expenditure  Total expenditure 
			 2007-08 1,084,457 1,781,166 4,385,017 0 7,250,640 
			 2006-07 1,452,056 3,385,017 5,091,011 0 9,928,084 
			 2005-06 1,182,528 1,620,193 5,036,669 2,253,476 10,092,866 
			 2004-05 120,094 0 4,823,900 1,308,120 6,252,114 
			 2003-04 0 0 4,215,130 1,011,228 5,226,358 
			 2002-03 0 0 2,664,571 97,503 2,762,074 
			 2001-02 0 0 1,511,089 203,972 1,715,061 
			 2000-01 0 0 788,177 1,111,198 1,899,375 
			 1999-2000 0 0 223,162 37,710 260,872 
			 Total 3,839,135 6,786,376 28,738,726 6,023,207 45,387,444

Children's Trusts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what minimum qualifications are required of the chairmen of children's trusts;
	(2)  who chairs each children's trust.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not prescribe a minimum level of qualifications for those who chair children's trust boards. Boards should be chaired in a way that most effectively meets the needs of children and young people. That is a matter for local determination. Proposals to strengthen children's trust boards in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Billwhich is currently before Parliamentwill be supported by guidance which will cover the process for appointing the chair and the chair's role on the board.
	Current information suggests that about 80 per cent. of children's trust boards are chaired either by the lead member for Children's Services or the director of Children's Services.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department has settled within 10 days of receipt in the last four months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families reports on its payment performance to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The percentage of invoices paid within the Government's 10 day target over the last four months were as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 November 2008 91.6 
			 December 2008 90.1 
			 January 2009 91.8 
			 February 2009 92.5

Departmental Correspondence

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many standard letters his Department has written to headteachers of special schools since September 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has written one letter to head teachers specifically on special educational needs in the last twelve months. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) capital expenditure and  (b) maintenance and running costs for standby diesel generators for backup electricity on the departmental estate in each year since March 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has not committed any capital expenditure for the purchase of standby generators during the period 1997 to date.
	The Department has two standby generators that kick in the event of a major power failure but have never been actively used. Both generators are subject to an annual load test lasting one hour and the cost of this test both in fuel and maintenance is so small that the information cannot be gleaned from the overall cost of maintaining the estate.

Gifted Children: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Braintree constituency and (ii) Essex have a gifted and talented register;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of school pupils in  (a) Braintree constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England are on the gifted and talented register in (i) the primary and (ii) secondary sector.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not collect data on which schools have a register of gifted and talented learners. Through the School Census schools are asked to confirm the gifted and talented pupils they have identified. In the summer 2008 Census, 95 per cent. of secondary schools and 78 per cent. of primary schools nationally confirmed they were identifying gifted and talented pupils. The comparable figures for Essex were 84 per cent. and 83 per cent. respectively. These data are not available for Braintree.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of gifted and talented pupils attending primary and secondary schools in Braintree, Essex and England according to the summer 2008 School Census.
	
		
			   Primary  Secondary 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Braintree 780 8.4 468 7.9 
			 Essex 10,195 9.7 10,275 11.5 
			 England 347,400 8.4 454,770 14.2

Gifted Children: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire have a gifted and talented register.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not collect data on which schools have a register of gifted and talented learners. Through the School Census schools are asked to confirm the gifted and talented pupils they have identified. In the summer 2008 census, 95 per cent. of secondary schools and 78 per cent. of primary schools nationally confirmed they were identifying gifted and talented pupils. The comparable figures for Hertfordshire were 94 per cent. and 82 per cent. respectively.
	These data are not available for Hemel Hempstead, but the following table shows the number and proportion of gifted and talented pupils attending primary and secondary schools in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and England according to the summer 2008 School Census.
	
		
			   Primary  Secondary 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Hemel Hempstead 638 7.7 837 11.8 
			 Hertfordshire 7,159 7.8 12,142 15.2 
			  
			 England 347,400 8.4 454,770 14.2

Israel: Anniversaries

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to which events held in the United Kingdom to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel he was invited as the representative of the Government; which such invitations he  (a) accepted and  (b) declined; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families attended and spoke at the 'Salute to Israel' celebration of the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel in Trafalgar Square. The Department does not retain information on other invitations that may have been received and declined.

Pupils: Bullying

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has given to schools on reducing levels of cyberbullying;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on each of its campaigns to reduce levels of cyberbullying in each of the last three years;
	(3)  who the members are of the cyberbullying taskforce; and how many times the taskforce has met.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department published detailed guidance for schools on how to prevent and tackle cyberbullying in September 2007. We have also produced a resource pack for school staff consisting of a DVD and booklet on cyberbullying. I have asked the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the National Strategies to work with local authorities and schools to ensure the cyberbullying guidance is implemented effectively locally, and that schools make effective use of the other materials.
	We ran a cyberbullying campaign specifically targeted at young people aged 12 to 14 to raise awareness. The first phase of the campaign ran from October to December 2007 at a cost of around 200,000 and the second phase ran from November 2008 to February 2009 and cost around 220,000. In addition, the Department was able to secure free additional advertising space from a range of internet service providers with a total value of around 135,000.
	The Cyberbullying Taskforce has met on six separate occasions. The Taskforce was chaired once by Jim Knight and once by Kevin Brennan. The members of the Cyberbullying Taskforce are:
	
		
			  Task force members  Organisation 
			 Emma Ashcroft Yahoo 
			 Richard Barron BeatBullying 
			 Steven Bartholomew O2 
			 Robert Beattie Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) 
			 Trish Church Orange 
			 Pat Cherry Parent Governor 
			 Fergus Crow Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) 
			 Jason Debon DCSF 
			 Thaddeus Douglas BeatBullying 
			 Owen Fernandez Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) 
			 Josephine Fraser Childnet International 
			 Will Gardner Childnet International 
			 Mike Griffiths Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) 
			 Ruth Hammond Becta 
			 Juliet Krammer T-Mobile 
			 Anthony Langan Samaritans 
			 Graham Robb Youth Justice Board 
			 Rosamund McNeil National Union of Teachers (NUT) 
			 Rupert Marsh Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) 
			 Shereen Meharg MySpace 
			 Juntin Millar Home Office 
			 Julie Minns Three 
			 Jennifer Moses National Association of School Masters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) 
			 Jan Myles National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) 
			 Annie Mullins Vodafone 
			 Rachel O'Connell Bebo 
			 Andy Peart Association of Teachers and Lecturers 
			 Richard Sargeant Google 
			 Emma Wilson Vodafone

Shrewsbury House School

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has received reports of bullying at Shrewsbury House School, Ditton Road, Surbiton, Surrey in the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Department has not received any reports of bullying at Shrewsbury House School within the last five years.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils with  (a) a statement of special educational needs and  (b) unstatemented special educational needs achieved five A* to G grades at GCSE (i) in all subjects and (ii) including English and mathematics in each year since 2003, broken down by type of school.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  (a) Pupils( 1)  with statements of SEN( 2) 
			  Percentages given of statemented SEN pupils in school type 
			   2008  2007  2006 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  (i) Achieving 5+ A*-G( 3)   
			 Academies 176 57.0 89 51.7 48 47.1 
			 Community Schools 5,632 69.4 5,947 65.3 5,984 62.5 
			 Voluntary Aided 1,294 77.6 1,199 74.1 1,170 70.9 
			 Voluntary Controlled 305 69.3 308 69.1 326 62.2 
			 Foundation Schools 1,957 74.0 1,542 71.1 1,537 68.8 
			 City Technology Colleges 12 100.0 19 95.0 13 100.0 
			 Community Special Schools 659 7.1 626 6.6 507 5.4 
			 Foundation Special Schools 20 5.6 12 4.4 0 0 
			 Total 10,055 43.9 9,742 41.9 9,585 40.4 
			
			  (ii) Achieving 5+ A*-G3 including English and maths   
			 Academies 152 49.2 74 43.0 41 40.2 
			 Community Schools 4,893 60.3 5,203 57.1 5,299 55.3 
			 Voluntary Aided 1,196 71.7 1,103 68.1 1,091 66.0 
			 Voluntary Controlled 272 61.8 278 62.3 292 55.7 
			 Foundation Schools 1,756 66.4 1,393 64.3 1,378 61.7 
			 City Technology Colleges 12 100.0 16 80.0 11 84.6 
			 Community Special Schools 462 4.9 470 5.0 396 4.2 
			 Foundation Special Schools 15 4.2 7 2.6 0 0 
			 Total 8,758 38.3 8,544 36.8 8,508 35.9 
		
	
	
		
			   2005  2004( 1b)  2003( 1b) 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  (i) Achieving 5+ A*-G( 3)   
			 Academies 40 52.4 25 44.6 (4) (4) 
			 Community Schools 6,006 60.6 6,060 57.9 6,037 58.3 
			 Voluntary Aided 1,102 67.4 1,101 67.8 1,026 67.5 
			 Voluntary Controlled 311 61.6 283 55.7 289 59.0 
			 Foundation Schools 1,396 68.4 1,433 67.7 1,352 64.9 
			 City Technology Colleges 24 100.0 25 80.6 25 86.2 
			 Community Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 389 4.1 
			 Foundation Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) (4) (4) 
			 Total 9,292 40.4 9,352 38.4 9,124 37.8 
			
			  (ii) Achieving 5+ A*-G3 including English and maths   
			 Academies 41 48.8 22 39.3 (4) (4) 
			 Community Schools 5,283 53.3 5,256 50.2 5,314 51.3 
			 Voluntary Aided 1,025 62.7 994 61.2 933 61.3 
			 Voluntary Controlled 285 56.4 248 48.8 251 51.2 
			 Foundation Schools 1,249 61.2 1,274 60.2 1,227 58.9 
			 City Technology Colleges 23 95.8 24 77.4 23 79.3 
			 Community Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 324 3.4 
			 Foundation Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) (4)() (4)() 
			 Total 8,255 35.9 8,173 33.5 8,078 33.5 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Pupils( 1)  without statements of SEN( 2) 
			  Percentages given of  un statemented SEN pupils in school type 
			   2008  2007  2006 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  (i) Achieving 5+ A*-G( 3)   
			 Academies 2,549 77.2 1,201 72.6 691 70.0 
			 Community Schools 53,752 80.6 47,412 76.5 42,997 73.2 
			 Voluntary Aided 10,720 86.2 9,154 82.4 7,967 80.3 
			 Voluntary Controlled 2,196 83.3 1,919 78.8 1,733 75.4 
			 Foundation Schools 17,136 84.0 12,570 81.2 9,567 78.5 
			 City Technology Colleges 95 96.0 174 97.8 201 96.2 
			 Community Special Schools 11 14.7 7 11.5 7 11.1 
			 Foundation Special Schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 86,459 81.8 72,437 78.0 63,163 74.8 
			
			  (ii) Achieving 5+ A*-G3 including English and maths   
			 Academies 2,425 73.5 1,133 68.5 659 66.8 
			 Community Schools 51,121 76.6 44,800 72.3 40,740 69.4 
			 Voluntary Aided 10,425 83.9 8,828 79.5 7,672 77.3 
			 Voluntary Controlled 2,086 79.2 1,824 74.9 1,642 71.5 
			 Foundation Schools 16,555 81.1 12,042 77.8 9,151 75.1 
			 City Technology Colleges 92 92.9 170 95.5 187 89.5 
			 Community Special Schools 11 14.7 (4) (4) 7 11.1 
			 Foundation Special Schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 82,715 78.3 68,800 74.1 60,058 71.2 
		
	
	continued
	
		
			   2005  2004( 1b)  2003( 1b) 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  (i) Achieving 5+ A*-G( 3)   
			 Academies 414 69.2 328 64.4 82 56.9 
			 Community Schools 38,009 71.1 34,509 68.8 32,724 68.5 
			 Voluntary Aided 7,296 78.4 6,897 77.0 6,277 76.7 
			 Voluntary Controlled 1,585 73.6 1,460 68.9 1,360 70.6 
			 Foundation Schools 8,349 77.5 8,298 76.3 7,303 75.5 
			 City Technology Colleges 268 98.2 192 93.7 201 90.5 
			 Community Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 21 24.4 
			 Foundation Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 0 0 
			 Total 55,926 73.0 51,686 70.9 47,968 70.5 
			
			  (ii) Achieving 5+ A*-G3 including English and maths   
			 Academies 378 63.2 297 58.3 75 52.1 
			 Community Schools 36,075 67.5 32,537 64.9 30,806 64.5 
			 Voluntary Aided 7,004 75.2 6,590 73.5 5,992 73.2 
			 Voluntary Controlled 1,512 70.2 1,386 65.4 1,284 66.7 
			 Foundation Schools 8,034 74.5 7,956 73.2 6,956 72.0 
			 City Technology Colleges 262 96.0 186 90.7 194 87.4 
			 Community Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 21 24.4 
			 Foundation Special Schools (5) (5) (5) (5) 0 0 
			 Total 53,270 69.6 48,959 67.2 45,328 66.6 
			 (1 )Only pupils at maintained schools have been counted.  (a) In the years 2005 to 2008, those at the end of their key stage 4 have been counted.  (b) In the years 2003 and 2004, those pupils aged 15 have been counted. (2 )Status of Special Educational Needs (SEN) was taken in the year specified. (3 )Examinations equivalent to a GCSE at A*-G have also been counted. (4 )Numbers of 5 and below have been suppressed in line with standard practice. (5 )Figures are not comparable in the years 2004 and 2005 for special schools.  Source:  National Pupil Database.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 758W, on special educational needs, how many of the children placed in schools outside their area in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2008 were resident in each local authority area.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Special Educational Needs: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils in each decile of income deprivation affecting children indices had statements of special educational need in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2008;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils with statements of special educational need there were in each decile of income deprivation affecting children indices in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2008;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of pupils in each decile of income deprivation affecting children indices with statements of special educational needs attended special schools in  (a) 2003 and  (b) 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Children( 1)  with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) by IDACI decile( 2)  of pupil residence 
			   Number of children with  a statement of SEN who attend special s chools( 3)  Percentage of children with  a statement of SEN who attend special s chools( 3)  Number of children with a statement of SEN in all schools  Percentage of children with a statement of SEN in all schools 
			  IDACI decile of pupil residence  2003  2008  2003  2008  2003  2008  2003  2008 
			 0-10% most deprived areas 16,559 14,965 41.9 44.5 39,543 33,659 3.9 3.4 
			 10-20% 14,212 13,166 40.3 44.4 35,298 29,650 4.0 3,4 
			 20-30% 11,691 11,046 38.4 42.3 30,435 26,126 3.8 3.4 
			 30-40% 9,743 9,322 37.3 41.3 26,139 22,578 3.5 3.1 
			 40-50% 8,173 8,067 36.1 39.7 22,662 20,309 3.1 2.9 
			 50-60% 6,726 6,803 34.1 37.9 19,746 17,930 2.8 2.6 
			 60-70% 6,274 6,430 34.3 37.9 18,272 16,979 2.6 2.5 
			 70-80% 5,589 5,758 33.6 36.5 16,623 15,782 2.4 2.3 
			 80-90% 5,261 5,448 33.2 36.1 15,825 15,095 2.3 2.2 
			 90-100% least deprived areas 4,829 5,075 34.3 36.3 14,095 13,968 2.0 2.1 
			 (1) Includes solely registered pupils only. (2) Income deprivation affecting children index 2007 at super output area level. (3) Includes pupils attending Foundation Special Schools, Community Special Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2117W, on special educational needs: pupil exclusions, why the figures in the Answer were not broken down by SEN.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information provided shows the number of fixed period exclusions (not the number of pupils) broken down by primary special educational need and reason for exclusion. Information on the type of special educational need is only collected for those pupils at school action plus and those with a statement of special educational needs.
	
		
			  Maintained primary schools( 1 ) number of fixed period exclusions by type of special educational need( 2)  and by reason for exclusion 2006/07England 
			   Statement or School Action Plus( 2) 
			   A utistic  spectrum disorder  Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties  Hearing impairment  Moderate learning difficulty  Multi-Sensory impairment  Other difficulty/disability  Physical disability 
			 Physical assault against a pupil 160 4,100 20 770 * 70 10 
			 Physical assault against an adult 310 3,190 10 420 * 40 20 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against a pupil 30 920 * 230 0 10 10 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against an adult 100 2,380 * 480 0 30 10 
			 Bullying * 120 0 20 0 * 0 
			 Racist abuse * 100 0 30 0 10 * 
			 Sexual misconduct 10 80 * 30 0 * 0 
			 Drug and alcohol related 0 10 0 * 0 * 0 
			 Damage 20 320 * 70 0 10 * 
			 Theft * 50 0 30 * 0 * 
			 Persistent disruptive behaviour 220 6,010 20 1,130 * 100 30 
			 Other 60 1,050 * 220 0 30 * 
			 Total 900 18,330 60 3,440 10 290 80 
		
	
	
		
			   Statement or School Action Plus( 2)  School Action( 3) 
			   Profound and multiple learning difficulty  Speech, Language and Communication needs  Severe learning difficulty  Specific learning difficulty  Visual impairment  Not specified  Not specified 
			 Physical assault against a pupil 10 290 50 230 10 610 2,340 
			 Physical assault against an adult 10 310 60 90 10 460 870 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against a pupil 0 40 20 70 0 130 540 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against an adult 0 140 40 130 * 330 970 
			 Bullying * 10 * 10 0 20 150 
			 Racist abuse 0 10 * 10 0 10 80 
			 Sexual misconduct 0 * * * 0 10 60 
			 Drug and alcohol related 0 * 0 * 0 * 20 
			 Damage 0 30 * 20 * 50 190 
			 Theft 0 10 * 10 0 20 100 
			 Persistent disruptive behaviour * 370 60 340 10 940 2,500 
			 Other * 80 20 70 0 190 660 
			 Total 20 1,290 260 990 30 2,770 8,450 
			 '*' = Less than 5 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Data for primary SEN need is collected for pupils with a statement of special educational needs or who are classified as being school action plus only. Data here has been taken from the National Pupil Database. (3) Data for Primary SEN is not collected for pupils whose special educational need is classed as School Action.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils with statements of special educational needs for autism were given  (a) fixed-term and  (b) permanent exclusion from mainstream schools in each year since 1997; and what the reasons for such exclusions were.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Data on pupil characteristics linked to exclusions was collected in the School Census for the first time in 2005/06, but was collected from secondary schools only. In 2006/07 data were also collected from primary and special schools.
	The information provided shows the number of fixed period and permanent exclusions (not the number of pupils) where the pupil's special educational need was autistic spectrum disorder, broken down by reason for exclusion. Pupils can be excluded more than once and these can be for different reasons.
	
		
			  Primary and secondary schools( 1 ) number of fixed period and permanent exclusions for pupils with statements of SEN for autistic spectrum disorder by reason for exclusion( 2) 
			   2005/06  2006/07 
			   Fixed period  Permanent  Fixed period  Permanent 
			   Primary( 3)  Secondary  Primary( 3)  Secondary  Primary  Secondary  Primary  Secondary 
			 Bullying n/a 10 n/a 0 * 20 0 0 
			 Drug and alcohol related n/a 20 n/a * 0 10 0 0 
			 Persistent disruptive behaviour n/a 170 n/a 10 140 180 * * 
			 Damage n/a 40 n/a * 10 30 0 0 
			 Other n/a 200 n/a * 30 210 * 0 
			 Physical assault against an adult n/a 100 n/a * 220 120 10 * 
			 Physical assault against a pupil n/a 300 n/a * 90 290 0 0 
			 Racist abuse n/a 10 n/a 0 * 10 0 0 
			 Sexual misconduct n/a 10 n/a 0 10 20 0 0 
			 Theft n/a 10 n/a 0 * 20 0 * 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against an adult n/a 310 n/a * 70 340 * 0 
			 Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against a pupil n/a 40 n/a * 10 50 0 * 
			 Total n/a 1,230 10 30 580 1,290 10 10 
			 n/a = Not available '*' = Less than 5 (1) Includes maintained primary, maintained secondary, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (2) Pupils who, (a) at the time of the January School Census had statements of special educational need or whose need was classed as School Action Plus and (b) whose special educational need at the time of the School Census was autistic spectrum disorder, and (c) who had a statement of special educational needs at the time of exclusion. (3) In 2005/06, Secondary school exclusions data was collected for the first time through the termly School Census. Primary school data was collected via the annual school census which collected data on permanent but not fixed term exclusions, and did not collect reasons for exclusion.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10  Source: School Census

Teachers: Councillors

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what restrictions there are upon teachers serving as councillors on local authorities which are local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Teachers are not permitted to serve as councillors of the local authorities in which they are employed. Section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972 states that a person shall be disqualified from being a member of a local authority if employed by (or holds a post confirmed by) the local authority or any of the committees of the local authority.

Teachers: Vetting

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of teachers recruited to maintained  (a) infant,  (b) primary and  (c) secondary schools were the subject of a completed Criminal Records Bureau check before starting work in each year since 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not hold this information.